KARACHI: The first 1,500-tonne Pakistan Maritime Security Ship ‘Kashmir’ — which is the fourth in a series of six multipurpose patrol vessels (MPVs) — was commissioned in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Friday.

According to a handout of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), the 94-metre MPV, PMSS Kashmir displaces 1,550 tonnes of water and is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, communication and navigational equipment. The ship is propelled by two advanced diesel engines to achieve a maximum speed of 26 knots and has an endurance of 3,500 nautical miles. It is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones, pollution monitoring and control and search and rescue operations while operating independently or as part of a task force in a multi-threat environment for extended duration at sea due to having that capability of replenishment and shipboard helicopter operations.

The commissioning ceremony was graced by Secretary of Defence retired Lt Gen Zamirul Hassan Shah HI(M) as the chief guest.

Congratulating the M/s CSTC, Haungpu Wenchong Shipyard, HQ PMSA and all stakeholders of the project, he highlighted the historic relationship of China and Pakistan. He also emphasised the importance of the project for the maritime security of the region in general and for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in particular.

He said that PMSA was not only ably ensuring Pakistan’s maritime security, but it was also playing an important role in maritime security in the regional context. He vouched that this potent platform PMSS Kashmir would further add to the capability of PMSA in contributing to maritime security.

“PMSS Kashmir, as its name implies, is a symbol of our solidarity with our integral part Kashmir,” he said. “The people of Kashmir are engaged in a heroic struggle and continue to lay supreme sacrifices for their rights. This ship, being the largest one in the PMSA fleet, has therefore been named Kashmir to show our resolve towards the cause of Kashmir and solidarity with our great Kashmiri brothers and sisters,” he added.

Earlier during his welcome address, PMSA Director General Rear Admiral Zakaur Rehamn SI (M) highlighted the importance of the project in the context of the overall security paradigm of the region along with the PMSA’s responsibility to regulate the maritime affairs of a vast area covering approximately 295,000 sq-km stretching over 1,000km from Sir Creek in the East to the mouth of Gwatar Bay in the West.

He also stated that PMSS Kashmir would further add to the capability of PMSA in contributing to the maritime security in the area of responsibility.

Realising the needs of the changing security paradigm, particularly in the wake of the CPEC project, the Ministry of Defence Production had signed a contract for the construction of 6 x maritime patrol vessels with M/s CSTC of China in June 2015. As per the contract, 4 x MPVs were to be constructed in China — three at the Xijaing Shipyard, Liuzhou, and one at the Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, Guangzhou.

With the commissioning of PMSS Kashmir, all these MPVs are now part of the PMSA fleet. The remaining two MPVs are still under construction at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited in Pakistan under a transfer of technology arrangement with China.

PMSS Kashmir will be commanded by Captain Azhar Mahmood TI(M) and manned by 10 officers and 64 men. The ship will be a part of Off Shore Squadron-26 under the administrative and operational control of HQ PMSA.

The ceremony was also attended by the CSSC vice chairman, CSTC president, chairman of Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard and other civilian and military dignitaries.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018