Yet Kieu MSSARS 9316 multipurpose submarine search-and-rescue ship
Having acquired a flotilla of six Kilo Improved diesel-electric attack submarines from the Russian naval industry, the Navy of the People’s Republic of Vietnam struck, on 05 May 2018 laid the keel of its first search and rescue vessel at the port city of Hŕi Phňng. The ceremony, chaired by the Commander of the country’s naval force, Rear Admiral Ph?m Hoŕi Nam, served, of course, the disclosure of a greater detail of the commissioned model, the MSSARS 9316 (multipurpose submarine search-and-rescue ship 9316).
This project was first unveiled in January 2018 during the Vietship 2018 show in Hanoi and will now be built at the Vietnamese yard Z189, linked to the Ministry of National Defense. The Vietnam naval industry gained visibility in Southeast Asia about five years ago after forming a joint venture with the Damen Shipyard Group.
A representative of the Z189 plant revealed that the construction of MSSARS 9316 was expected to last 27 months and will build on the experience gained by the shipyard in the manufacture of two modern submarine relief vessels for the Royal Australian Navy: MV Besant – launched to the sea in October 2014 – and the MV Stoker – May 2015 – both 93.20 m long, 16 wide, 4,20 m draft and 2093 tonnes displacement. he vessel designed for the Vietnamese Naval Force will be considerably larger than that of the Besant class: it will be 94 m long, 16 m wide and 5.85 m high. Its displacement was expected to reach 3,950 tons.
The Vietnamse People's Navy (VPN) held a ceremoney on 04 December 2019 at Shipbulding Factory Z189 the General Department of Defense Industry under the Ministry of National Defense to unveil its Multi-Purpose Submarine Searcg and Rescue vessel numbered 927 Yet Kieu.The launching ceremony witnessed the presence of Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich and senior leaders of the Defense Ministry.
It took the factory 17 months to build this first-ever submarine search and rescue vessel, meeting all the set requirements on quality and technical standards. It has a displacement of nearly 4,000 tons and was equipped with numerous modern features, including an on-deck helipad, search and rescue equipment, and a positioning system to make sure it can operate for thirty consecutive days amid harsh weather conditions.
The new vessel can conduct international submarine rescue operations, underwater surveys, sea bed mapping, marine rescue, and others. It was considered as a significant achievement of the Vietnam’s defense industry, contributing to meeting the logistical requirements for the VPN’s submarines and surface ships. It was expected to help the VPN modernize itself to firmly protect national sovereignty over the seas and islands.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the leadership of the Defense Ministry, Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong applauded the efforts made by the staff of Factory Z189 in fulfilling their shipbuilding task. He urged the Navy Command to conduct in-depth training for the crew of the ship so that they would quickly master the ship and start the maiden voyage as scheduled.
The MSSARS9316 will feature a helipad in the bow, a decompression chamber, a “robust dynamic positioning system and several other features” (characteristics similar to those of an oil platform positioning boat), which will enable it to operate without great difficulties in adverse weather conditions, such as Beaufort force 9 winds (75-88km / h) and waves up to 14m (conditions that hinder the navigation of the largest line ships).
In addition to its priority mission to operate as an underwater rescue vessel, MSSARS 9316 will also be able to carry out underwater surveys, mapping the submarine bed and operate as an oceanic research vessel. The MSSARS 9316 was launched 08 December 2018 by the Z189 Company under the General Department of Defense Industry. General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Minister of Defense (MND) attended and conducted the ceremony.
After 17 months of construction on schedule, quality assurance, occupational safety procedures of the international registry organization, 927-Yet Kieu ship was ready to launch. This type of submarine rescue ship was built for the first time in Vietnam and equipped for the Navy. The ship has adynamic system, electric power, marine equipment, communications, medical equipment, life-saving, rescue, navigation system. The equipment installed on the ship was of the new generation, advanced technology, modern, imported from developed countries.
The decision of the Central Military Administration and the Ministry of Defense approved the investment project on the construction of Yet Kieu multi-purpose search and rescue vessel to meet the urgent requirements of submarine search and rescue missions, surface ships, surveys , exploration, research of the seabed and search, assistance in salvaging underwater objects and performing other assigned tasks.
In addition to repairing small and medium-sized boats, Z189 factory has built new types of military ships, patrol boats, transport ships, fishing ships, at the same time, focusing on researching and producing many types of ships. new, modern arrival to meet national defense and security requirements; many projects are dual-use in national defense and security and export products of modern ships abroad.
The successful construction of a large submarine rescue ship was a significant achievement of Vietnam's defense industry, meeting the needs of ensuring logistics as well as maintaining combat capability for the Kilo 636 attack submarine fleet. The construction of a new universal search and rescue submarine ship for the Navy was not only meant to equip and modernize the army, but also contributes to the task of ensuring the sovereignty over sea and islands of the Fatherland.
On behalf of the CMC, MND, speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong praised and acknowledged the efforts and efforts of the Z189 Factory officials and workers, the General Department of Defense Industry has completed the tasks. shipbuilding to ensure quality and prescribed time.
The Deputy Minister of MND noted that after receiving the handover, the Marine Corps Command must continue to direct the unit directly under management to organize strict training, quickly exploit and own the ship. The authorities of BQP create favorable conditions for Z189 Factory to hand over to the unit to put to use in time, absolutely safe.
At 3950 tons, 93.2m long, 16m wide, it was currently the biggest ship in Vietnamese navy. The ship was named “Yet Kieu”, after a famous navy diver in Vietnamese history. He was famous for his diving skill. In the war with Mongols in the 1300s, he commanded a team of divers, drilling holes into enemy warships, sinking them and other sabotage works. And this ship was the first navy rescue ship in Vietnam.
On July 30, 2021 at the Z189 Shipyard, the multipurpose submarine search-and-rescue ship (MSSARS) was commissioned into the Vietnam People’s Navy. Initially, the vessel was expected to be fully operational before the scheduled Vietnamese-hosted International Maritime Review at Nha Trang in May 2020. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission of the vessel was silently delayed. In June 2021, the submarine rescue vehicle (SRV) for the ship was first time revealed, hinting that the vessel was closer to its commission. The ship is projected to be stationed at Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Naval Base.
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