TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Deputy Road and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Saeednejad announced the country's plans to unveil several search and rescue, passenger and cargo vessels in the near future."We are trying to unveil a number of vessels which are being built by the support of the Ports and Maritime Organization concurrent with the 16th marine industries forum and exhibition (to be held in Bandar Abbas port city on December 2-5) in the presence of officials to display the capabilities of our country's marine industries," Saeednejad told FNA on Saturday.
"Numerous search and rescue, passenger and cargo vessels have been manufactured by the Iranian shipyards and they will be unveiled concurrent with the 16th edition of marine industries forum and exhibition," he added.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the ship-building sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing even equipment and systems for the Naval forces.
In October, a senior Iranian military official announced the country's self-sufficiency in building light submarines, adding that Iran plans to unveil new submarines soon.
There are three classes of submarines, Head of the Navy's Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Office General Ali Gholamzadeh said, adding that Iran had attained self-sufficiency in building light submarines.
He also said that Iran will unveil a home-made semi-heavy submarine in the coming months, and announced, "We are designing and building heavy and semi-heavy submarines, and the Fateh (Conqueror) submarine will be unveiled this (Iranian calendar) year (ending March 20, 2015),
Also in September, Gholamzadeh announced the country's plans to launch Fateh submarines and different Mowj Class destroyers in the near future.
"We will soon launch the Fateh class submarines and the second, third, fourth and fifth version of Mowj class destroyers, and one of them will be unveiled this year," he said in a press conference in Tehran.
Asked if Iran is capable of building heavier and bigger destroyers than its first home-made destroyer, 'Jamaran', he said, "Now that we have acquired the know-how to build destroyers, there is no doubt that we can construct destroyers better than Jamaran."
Gholamzadeh said Damavand destroyer is more equipped than Jamaran, although Jamaran itself has also been equipped with a number of Damavand's equipment, including 'Asr' radar system.
He also announced that the construction of Fateh, a semi-heavy submarine with abundant possibilities, has ended, and the vessel is now under tests.
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced in August that the country had gained the capability to launch production line of destroyers, and also announced plans to launch a new submarine in the near future.
"Today, the Navy has acquired the capability to launch the production line of destroyers and our project for building destroyers has started at the order of the Supreme Leader since a while ago and we are witnessing newer and more updated achievements in this project now," Sayyari told reporters in Tehran.
He said that Iran's new destroyer named Sahand is 30% more advanced than the country's first destroyer, Jamaran.
Iran's first home-made destroyer, Jamaran, was launched in late February 2010. The Mowdge Class vessel has a displacement of around 14,000 tons and is equipped with modern radars and electronic warfare capabilities and is armed with a variety of anti-ship, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles.
By Fars News Agency
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