“Pakistan Navy Welcomes PNS Tabuk into Service in Romania”
On the 12th of November, the Pakistan Navy officially commissioned its latest Corvette – a Damen OPV 1900 – designated PNS Tabuk at the Port of Constanta, Romania. This vessel is part of a duo order placed with Damen, formalized by the Pakistan Ministry of Defence in 2017. Both ships are constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The initial craft, PNS Yarmook, integrated into the Pakistan Navy’s fleet in February of this year.
Similar to her counterpart, PNS Tabuk is a versatile, highly flexible platform, adept at executing a broad range of missions in a complicated maritime setting. She is equipped to deploy a helicopter and a UAV, as well as two RHIBs concurrently.
During the commissioning ceremony, the delegates – many of whom participated remotely due to the ongoing covid-19 situation – were addressed by the commanding officer of PNS Tabuk, Captain Muhammad Umair. The Captain expressed gratitude towards Damen’s exceptional expertise during the project and conveyed optimism for future collaborations.
Flemming Sorensen, managing director of Damen Shipyards Galati, remarked at the event, “Damen has been involved in numerous projects in Pakistan since 1986, and we take immense pride in this enduring and reliable partnership.”
He emphasized that the successful realization of the project stemmed from robust collaboration among all parties engaged.
“Such a milestone is only achievable with effective coordination, proficient craftsmanship, outstanding teamwork, and solid cooperation among all stakeholders. Despite the unparalleled challenges posed by the pandemic, the project teams from Pakistan, Romania, and the Netherlands demonstrated remarkable perseverance, successfully fulfilling their commitments.”
Damen will continue to offer support to PNS Tabuk throughout her operational life.
Damen’s facility in Galati has successfully constructed over 40 vessels for the defense and security sector, including the latest seven sophisticated naval ships for the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Stefan cel Mare offshore patrol vessel, recognized as the flagship of the Romanian Border Police.
