The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) organized today a reception ceremony for Al Shamikh vessel, first of three vessels in the ‘Khareef’ project for RNO.
Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs sponsored the ceremony which was held at the Said bin Sultan Naval Base, where he, along with commanders, greeted the vessel upon its arrival at the Naval base to join other vessels of the RNO fleet.
Sayyid al-Busaidi and Senior invitees toured the vessel facilities and had an idea about its different sections and equipment.
The minister Responsible for Defence Affairs made a statement to a reporter from the Moral Guidance Department in which he said :” Today we celebrate the arrival of Al Shamikh into the waters of the Sultanate, the first ship of ‘Al Khareef’ project, which is a vital source that would contribute to the strengthening of military capabilities and capacities of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) which enjoys the royal care and attention of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to develop and update it to perform its national duties.
He added “The other ships in ‘Al Khareef’ Project will arrive successively to the Sultanate by the will of the Almighty Allah, referring to the arming system and modern technology with which the vessel is supplied, which will strengthen the role of the RNO in performing its national duty to protect the Omani waters, keeping the safety of maritime navigation and providing operational support for other branches of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.
Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi thanked RNO commanders and personnel in general and the crew who led the vessel on its maiden voyage from the place of manufacture in the United Kingdom in particular, wishing everyone all the best in serving the precious Oman and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
For his part, Captain Qasim bin Mohammed al-Balushi, Commander of the Al Shamikh expressed his pride in leading the vessel to the Sultanate’s waters, coming from the United Kingdom after completing the training goals, adding that Al Shamikh is the most modern of RNO ships, which joins the fleet and which restores to us the history of maritime heritage in Oman under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
It is worth mentioning that Al Shamikh is an important step in the process of development and modernization which RNO undergoes within the plans to improve the operational capacity of its fleet to keep pace with developments and meets the national obligations of protecting the territorial waters and the Omani seas, to commensurate with the needs of SAF the armed forces, to work alongside with the various units, formations and branches of SAF, to impose national sovereignty and protection of navigation to ensure safety of navigation, the implementation of joint operations and exercises with fleets of the fraternal and friendly States, to support efforts to combat marine pollution, infiltration, immigration and illegal activities, such as piracy, drug smuggling and infiltrators and to aid stricken and stranded ships at sea and to carry out search and rescue operations.
Lt. Gen. Ahmed bin Harith al-Nabhani, Chief of Staff of SAF, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom, the commanders of SAF and Military and Security Apparatuses, a number of senior civil and military officials, the British Ambassador to the Sultanate and a collection of the RNO personnel attended the ceremony.
Via: http://www.omannews.gov.om/
