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SIGMA class Multi-Mission Frigates

The Royal Moroccan Navy gave Schelde Naval Shipbuilding of the DAMEN Shipyards Group the order for the design, build and delivery of three SIGMA class Multi-Mission Frigates. The contract became effective 20 February 2008 after close cooperation and final negotiations with the Royal Moroccan Navy in a relatively short period in order to realise its plans to modernise the fleet and extend its patrol capabilities. In addition, the choice of systems was focussed on inter operability, for example on communication systems, to pursue its future intentions on joint operation missions with ships from NATO Navies. The SIGMA Class Multi-Mission Frigates will be extended versions of the existing SIGMA ships by adding one or two modules. The contract includes one ship in length 105 m, delivery after 44 months, and two ships of 98 m in length, delivery after 50 and 56 months, all with commonality in the systematic arrangement including a state of the art Combat System with ASW, SuW, AAW and EW capabilities.

On 12 July 2010, the green light was given to launch the first Multi-Mission Frigate under construction for the Royal Moroccan Navy. The 105 meter long ship had been constructed entirely on land at the DSNS yard at Vlissingen East and is now ready, on schedule, to be completed at the Vlissingen-City shipyard. Heavy Lifting and Transport company Mammoet, then moved the 2000 ton vessel initially from the hall towards the water. It was then placed on a pontoon and taken to deeper water where the pontoon was allowed to sink so that the frigate could be allowed to float unaided. The frigate was then towed by tug boats to Vlissingen-City where it will be completed over the coming year. This "direct launch" method is unique to this whole operation.

DSNS had made various investments over the course of the previous two years in order to facilitate this unique construction method at the shipyard in Vlissingen-East. The site has undergone a complete metamorphosis whereby the existing production hall was extended by 120 m and a Ro-Ro 'path' was created, upon which the ships 'drive' from the hall to the pontoon. The second and third frigates for the Royal Moroccan Navy, both 98 metres long, were launched to water in exactly the same manner in 2011.

The three SIGMA-class frigates for the Royal Moroccan Navy have been designed according to Schelde Naval Shipbuilding's revolutionary SIGMA-approach and are a further development of the SIGMA-corvettes for the Indonesian Navy. The SIGMA approach applies modularity in many areas, which offers the user great flexibility at reduced costs. The frigates are also known as "FMMM", which stands for Frégates Multi-Missions Marocaines. The first frigate is longer than numbers two and three, to accommodate a VIP-crew and command facilities. The vessels are built according to Lloyds Register Class for unrestricted service and are enhanced by proven naval principles.   The superior propulsion and sea keeping capabilities make the SIGMA class frigates perfectly suited for operations in Moroccan territorial waters. Basic functions are maritime patrols and surveillance in the Territorial Waters and EEZ. In addition fishery protection, prevention and protection of natural resources, maritime search and rescue as well as the assigned constabulary tasks in law enforcement at sea will belong to the vessels capabilities. A helicopter deck and hangar for helicopters with a maximum weight of 5 tonnes, with lashing points and refuelling system is provided (landing and take-off up to 9 tonnes). Heli operations can be performed at day and night.

On 8 September 2012, the SIGMA Class Frigate, Allal Ben Abdellah, built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen, was transferred to the Royal Moroccan Navy. For this occasion DSNS had the unique opportunity to let the ceremony take place in Rotterdam, during the 35th edition of the "World Port Days". The delivery of the last ship of a series of three marks the culmination of a period of dedicated and successful partnership with the Royal Moroccan Navy. All three ships were delivered in time, on schedule, meeting all the requirements as stated in the contract to the full satisfaction of the customer.

The delivery of the last of three frigates was achieved within four and a half years from the effective date of contract, after a period of thorough engineering and three years of construction. The first frigate Tarik Ben Zayid was commissioned on 10 September 2011, the second Sultan Moulay Ismail was commissioned on 10 March 2012. After commissioning, the crew will continued with another three weeks of Sail Safety Training in Den Helder and North Sea. This training was conducted by training teams of the Royal Netherlands Navy.