Swiftships Delivers First Iraqi Patrol Boat P-301 to United States Navy

Pictured from left to right (foreground): Mr. Jawaid Ahmad, LTCD Walla, Commander FahdilAbood, Mr. Haider Rizvi, Commander Thamer, Mr. Mohamed Kazilbash, Mr. Lutfi Hassan, Mr. Calvin Leleux, Commodore Munir Saddam, Commodore Abid Ali Abdulhussein, Mrs. Ina Jolicoeur, Captain Abdul Sattar, Captain Faraj, LTCDMaitham.

On May 15, 2010, after successfully completing acceptance trials, P-301, the first 35-meter patrol boat built for the Iraqi Navy was provisionally delivered to the U.S. Navy at Swiftships in Morgan City, La.

Swiftships’ Training Village adjacent to the shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana

Swiftships is under contract with the U.S. Navy build up to 15 35-meter patrol boats for the government of Iraq in an effort to reconstitute the country’s maritime security capability.The patrol boat will now be stationed at Swiftships’ Training Village, adjacent to the shipyard, where it will remain until the first group of Iraqi sailors completes training in July 2010. The patrol boat, along with the second boat, will then be shipped to Iraq.

Lutfi Hassan, CEO of Swiftships, thanked the U.S. Navy and contractor team for the outstanding efforts that have led to this historic moment. Iraqi Commodores, Munir Saddamand Abid Ali Abdulhussein, witness the delivery of the first Iraqi Patrol Boat

Swiftships’ President, Calvin Leleux, and Chief Executive Officer, Lutfi Hassan, thanked the U.S. Navy and shipbuilder team for all of their efforts to make this historic program successful.“Swiftships is honored to have been selected to rebuild the Iraqi Navy,” said Leleux. “May the rest of the 15 Iraqi Patrol Boats be delivered as fast and may this be only the beginning of our long term relationship with Iraq.”

Calvin Leleux presents the first Iraqi Patrol Boat to the US Navy representative, Mrs. Ina Jolicoeur of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast office

Lutfi Hassan added that “Swiftships is proud that in a small way we are part of the effort that will allow U.S. naval forces to turn security over to the Iraqi Navy and to bring our troops home.”The construction program, managed by the Navy’s Program Executive Office,Ships (PEO Ships) represents a commitment for continued cooperation between the U.S. and Iraqi governments.

Posted in: Iraq,Missile boat,Naval