Turkish Coast Guard Command orders nine SAR boats from Damen

The Turkish Coast Guard Command has placed an order for nine search and rescue (SAR) boats in a series from Damen.

Financed by the European Union, the 19-metre-long aluminium-hulled boats will be in addition to the six vessels of the same class ordered in 2016, which were delivered to Turkish Coast Guard Command the following year.

The first two units of the new order will be delivered in the summer of 2020 with the remaining seven due to come into service over the following 12 months.

The chosen SAR boat design has been developed by Damen in close cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, TU Delft, and maritime design bureau De Vries Lentsch as a fast, harbour-based, all weather, self-righting rescue boat. The design has been further improved in close cooperation with the Turkish Coast Guard Team and modified for their specific operations.

Construction of the boats will take place at Damen Shipyards Antalya in Turkey.