Moroccan Navy News

At least 34 migrants have died in a shipwreck in the western Mediterranean, which 26 people survived, the U.N. migration agency said on Tuesday, citing the Moroccan navy and a Spanish aid agency.Joel Millman, spokesman of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told Reuters, "The boat was adrift since Sunday with 60 people aboard. At least 34 have drowned, it looks like there were 26 survivors."The information came from the Moroccan navy and a Spanish non-governmental organisation Caminando Fronteras, he said.A Moroccan official, asking not to be named, said 11 bodies had been recovered, adding that the dead were all migrants, not Moroccan nationals. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay and Zakia Abdennebi; editing by William Maclean)

Nearly 6,500 Sailors of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) arrived in Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Virginia, July 21.The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and strike group ships USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) arrived after operating for more than three months in the U.S. 5th and 6th fleets areas of responsibility."I couldn't be more proud of this strike group team's performance over more than three months of operating in a highly-dynamic environment across two theaters," said HSTCSG Commander Rear Adm. Gene Black. "We carried out the full spectrum of missions…

In early April DCNS delivered the FREMM multi-mission frigate Auvergne to the French Navy, the fourth of the series ordered by OCCAR1 on behalf of the DGA (French armament procurement agency). Delivery of the FREMM multi-mission frigate Auvergne is the result of a design and construction process managed by DCNS in close cooperation with the French Navy, DGA and OCCAR teams. “The delivery of the FREMM Auvergne represents an opportunity to applaud the industrial and technological prowess of DCNS and its subcontractors,"said Nicolas Gaspard, director of the FREMM program at DCNS.

In a third recent construction contract with Damen Shipyards Group, the Royal Moroccan Navy has ordered five Interceptor 1503 vessels. The vessels will be mobilized to combat illegal activities such as terrorism and smuggling in Moroccan waters. Designed for ultra-fast operations, the Interceptor 1503 can reach speeds of up to 60 knots thanks to its propulsion system and lightweight composite materials. The power originates from three diesel engines, each driving a separate stern drive. The hull is constructed from fiber reinforced plastic in an epoxy resin matrix.

The Royal Moroccan Navy has taken delivery of a Damen Stan Tug 2208. The 22-meter long vessel, named Al Mounkid, is the first tug to join Morocco’s sizeable naval fleet. The Royal Moroccan Navy has a fleet consisting of frigates, offshore patrol vessels, training vessels and hydrographic, amphibious and auxiliary vessels. Its fleet, however, did not include a tug of any sort. In the past, Morocco’s Navy has turned to third party tug operators for towing, moving and mooring services.

The Royal Moroccan Navy has taken delivery of a Damen Stan Pontoon 3011 Water Barge. They will immediately mobilise the vessel to supply fresh drinking water to areas of Morocco suffering from a long-lasting drought. constructed the vessel within an extremely tight timeframe. With the pontoon fully operational less than six months after the order was placed, the team at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, the Netherlands, have demonstrated their commitment to construct the vessel as swiftly as possible. The Royal Moroccan Navy can transfer the Stan Pontoon Water Barge between locations with either a tug or workboat. Furthermore, due to its narrow 11-metre beam, the smallest of harbours are also accessible.

The Royal Moroccan Navy, in response to the severe drought that is currently affecting the country, recently awarded Damen Shipyards Group a contract to supply a Stan Pontoon 3011 Water Barge. Due to the urgent need for water in the region, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, the Netherlands, is putting all its efforts into a fast delivery. Combining a Stan Pontoon 3011 with water making technology is a first for Damen. Bringing both technologies together in one unit is a unique and innovative solution to the current water shortage in Morocco.

GE Marine has received an order to supply one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio Aero of Turin, Italy, a GE Aviation business. The gas turbine will power the Italian Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate. Through Avio Aero, at least 17 LM2500+G4 gas turbines are expected to provide propulsion for the Italian-French-Moroccan FREMM program, which includes eight ships each for the Italian and French navies and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Other international navies are considering the FREMM frigate for use in their fleets.

The Royal Moroccan Navy’s frigate Tarik BenZiyad has returned to the Damen Shipyards Group for its first routine drydocking after three years of operation. The SIGMA multi-mission frigate 10513, built at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in the Netherlands, arrived at Damen Shiprepair Brest in France on October 24 for a maintenance program of approximately 30 days. “As the original equipment manufacturer, we’re very proud to welcome back the Royal Moroccan Navy to Damen for Tarik Ben Ziyad’s first scheduled docking outside the warranty period…

GE Marine has received an order to supply one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio Aero of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbine will power the French Navy’s ninth FREMM frigate. Through Avio Aero, at least 18 LM2500+G4 gas turbines will provide propulsion for the Italian-French FREMM program, which includes six ships for the Italian Navy, 11 ships for the French Navy, and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Other international navies are considering the FREMM frigate for use in their fleets.

GE Marine has delivered one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio S.p.A. of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbine will power the French Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate Lorraine. The Italian-French FREMM program marks the first application in the marine sector of GE’s LM2500+G4 gas turbine, which has 17% more power than its LM2500+ predecessor. Through Avio, 18 LM2500+G4 gas turbines will provide propulsion for the current FREMM program, which includes six ships for the Italian Navy, 11 ships for the French Navy, and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

SIGMA Class Frigate, 'Allal Ben Abdellah', built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen, transferred to the Royal Moroccan Navy. DSNS took the opportunity for the ceremony to 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. After commissioning, the crew will continue with another three weeks of Sail Safety Training in Den Helder and North Sea  conducted by training teams of the Royal Netherlands Navy. After that the Allal Ben Abdellah will start her maiden voyage to Morocco.

The 98 meters long SIGMA class frigate, the third frigate built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Moroccan Navy, left Vlissingen earlier for her sea acceptance trials (SAT) in the North Sea. During the SAT, an intensive program was carried out in which the platform as well as the sensor weapons and communications suite were extensively tested, to the satisfaction of the Royal Moroccan Navy. The tests were performed by representatives of the yard in close cooperation with representatives of the subcontractors, the Royal Moroccan Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Second Sigma-class frigate transferred to Royal Moroccan Navy by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. The delivery of the second of three frigates was achieved within four years from the effective date of contract. The first frigate Tarik Ben Zayid is already in service and the third frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy is well underway. After commissioning, the crew will continue with another three weeks of safety training in Den Helder and the North Sea, conducted by training teams of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Litton Marine Systems (LMS) was awarded a contract worth up to $1.8 million to supply navigation and control systems for two new Floreal Class frigates being built for the Moroccan Navy in France construction at Chantiers de L'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire. They are scheduled for delivery in 2003-2004. The frigates will be fitted with Litton's new BridgeMaster E military-spec tactical radar systems. Other equipment to be supplied by Litton includes a ring laser gyro attitude and heading reference system, automatic pilot, electric main steering, echosounder, gyrocompass and magnetic compass with repeaters, GPS and other bridge systems.

A damaged tanker, Castor, carrying 29,000 tons of gasoline is being held outside Moroccan waters by the Coastguard, its Greek operator Athenian Sea Carriers said. "The Moroccan Coast Guard has instructed the vessel to move 40 miles offshore," an Athenian Sea Carriers spokesman told Reuters. The company said it had instructed the vessel to head for the Moroccan port of Nador to seek refuge on New Year's Day. The damage developed during heavy weather between December 26 and December 31 on a voyage from Constanza in Romania to Lagos. The company said a surveyor at the site had reported that the crack occurred along a transverse butt-weld next to number four hold. Lloyds agents quoted the Moroccan navy as saying that crack was 20 m long, but that the tanker was not leaking cargo.