Fifth Hellenic navy Fac to be launched

VT Shipbuilding, working in partnership with Elefsis Shipbuilding, will launch the fifth of class 62m. fast attack craft for the Hellenic Navy at the Elefsis shipyard on October 9.

The ship, which will be named HS Ritsos, is the latest milestone in a successful project that sees VT, working through Greek subsidiary VT Hellas, and Elefsis partnered to build five FACs, with an option for two more ships likely to be taken up in the future.

Three of the highly sophisticated craft are already service and have already demonstrated their capability operating out of the base at Amfialia, an outstation of Salamis Naval Base.

VT has played a valuable role in helping Elefsis to build a ship that has won widespread admiration. Initially, the VT team worked with Elefsis in a 40 million Euro investment on upgrading the expansive shipyard ready for the new project, investing in a new assembly hall and offices, plus new shell rolls, panel line, laser cutting and pipe bending machinery.