In March, the keel laying ceremony of the Coast Guard Vessel for the Government of Iceland took place at ASMAR Talcahuano.
The solemn act was headed by ASMAR Executive Director, Rear Admiral Carlos Fanta and counted with the presence of the Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs of Iceland, Mr Björn Bjarnason, who headed a delegation including the Director of Police and Judicial Affairs, Mrs Thorunn J. Hafstein, and the Coast Guard General Director, Rear Admiral Georg Kr. Larusson, among other authorities.
Minister Bjarnason delivered a brief but significant speech about the experience and good work carried out by ASMAR in other projects for Iceland, highlighting the Oceanographic Research vessel and four fishing vessels for Icelandic companies, that successfully operate in those latitudes with good results - all reasons that were taken into account by the Government of Iceland when choosing the Chilean Shipyard for the construction of this new unit.
On the other hand, Rear Admiral Fanta said that it is a great challenge assumed by ASMAR that commits the whole company to deliver a high quality product with high technological standards.
This 512 L Class Multipurpose Coast Guard Vessel was designed by Rolls Royce Marine, Norway, for a great variety of roles such as fisheries inspection, patrol of the Exclusive Economic Area, search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance, personnel and equipment transport, environmental pollution control, as well as towing other vessels.
The delivery of this vessel will take place in September 2009.
