Portuguese defense minister present in Galati Shipyard at keel laying of Portuguese Navy's Multipurpose Ship

The Portuguese Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, and the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, were present on Thursday at the Damen Galati Shipyard, at the joint ceremony of the official start of cutting and laying of the keel for the Multipurpose Ship of the Portuguese Navy.The contract for the construction of the Multipurpose Ship of the Portuguese Navy was signed by the two sides in November last year, following a tender process. The project is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRF) of the European Union, which is part of NextGenerationEU (the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic)."The extensive maritime territory under Portugal's jurisdiction constitutes a significant part of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Member States of the European Union. Protecting this region becomes increasingly important in the context of the intensification of strategic competition in the North Atlantic. It is crucial to strengthen our capacities to face these threats and to secure the underwater resources, which have a special strategic value", declared on this occasion the Minister of National Defense from Portugal, Nuno Melo.The joint ceremony of the official start of cutting and laying of the keel took place at the Damen Galati Shipyard and was organized by the Damen Shipyards Group, the host of the event that simultaneously marks two significant stages in the construction of the ship being the commercial director of the Damen Group, Jan-Wim Dekker."We are proud to have been selected to build this spectacular ship for the Portuguese Navy. The official start of the cutting and laying of the keel at the Damen Galati Shipyard represent important steps in the construction of this multi-purpose vessel, which will enable the Portuguese Navy to carry out the most demanding missions, having at the same time, the ability to carry out research activities in the deepest areas of the ocean. This project also underlines the solid relationship of the Damen Group with the Portuguese Navy and represents a new example of cooperation within the European defense industry," said Jan-Wim Dekker. (Photo:https://www.facebook.com/)