At the end of March ANADOLU Shipyard (ADIK) successfully launched the seventh vessel of Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Project the NB 229 (C-157). The construction of the vessel started in 2011 and the hull was completed in November 2011. The first ship of the project was delivered to Turkish Naval Forces in early March, the NB 223 / C-151).
The first ship of the project NB 223 / C-151 had been launched with a ceremony which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended. Since then, 5 sister ships of NB 223 / C-151 have been launched. Now the seventh “Sister” NB 229 (C-157) has been met the sea for the first time.
In 2007, Under-secretariat for Defence Industries (UDI), submitted a Request for Proposal for 8 LCTs. These new vessels were to be built in Turkey and had to be fast. From the four companies that submitted to the tender, ADİK shipyard was chosen.
The s hip is a mono-hull type vessel, all steel construction, designed to meet the speed, sea keeping maneuverability and stability requirements of Turkish Naval Forces Command. The expected service life will be 30 years.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, April 25, 2012; Image: ADIK