First Moroccan Frigate Passes Sea Acceptance Trials

The 105 mtrs long SIGMA class frigate, built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Moroccan Navy, left Vlissingen on the 6th of May for her sea acceptance trials (SAT) in the North Sea, right on schedule as agreed in the contract.

During the SAT, a very intensive program was carried out in which the platform as well as the sensor weapons and communications suite was extensively tested. 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.

The commanding officer, Captain RNLN Jilles Goedknegt, was very satisfied with the results of the sea trials. The sea keeping capabilities and the maneuverability of the ship proved to be very good and the performances of the combat system were excellent. A result where everybody involved in the preparation and the execution of the sea trials could be proud of.

The ship entered Vlissingen on the 20th of May after a very busy but rewarding fourteen days of sea trials.

The second frigate of 98 mtrs is scheduled for sea trials at the end of 2011 as the third frigate, also 98 mtrs, is still under construction at the Damen yard in Vlissingen, to be launched in September this year.

SIGMA:

The three SIGMA-class frigates for the Royal Moroccan Navy have been designed according to Schelde Naval Shipbuilding's revolutionary SIGMA-approach and are a further development of the SIGMA-corvettes for the Indonesian Navy. The SIGMA approach applies modularity in many areas.

The Moroccan SIGMA Class frigates equipped to conduct the traditional naval tasks as well as maritime security operations. The vessels are also suited to support humanitarian aid operations.


The Damen Shipyards Group offers a complete range of naval and patrol vessels ranging from 7 to over 200 meters. Part of this portfolio are the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) naval combatants and auxiliaries, embodied by the SIGMA and ENFORCER series.

At present DSNS also has under construction for the Royal Netherlands Navy: four Patrol Ships and a Joint Logistic Support Ship (JSS), the largest military vessel built by DSNS so far.