The Nigeria Navy will, in 2022, take delivery of a new 100m landing ship transport (LST) 100 being built by Damen Shipyards.
The ship-building company on Monday announced the launch of the LST 100 at Albwardy Damen in Sharjah, UAE.
It said that the 100m, roll-on-roll-off (RORO) LST has space for a crew of 32 and 250 Embarked Marine Forces (EMF) staff.
The landing craft features a dedicated deck space to house vehicles and a helicopter / uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) deck.
It also has space for cargo and is equipped with a 25t main crane.
Damen noted that “the LST will increase the Nigerian Navy’s ability to deploy soldiers, military hardware, and vehicles in support of maritime security operations.
“It will also support the supply of relief material during disasters or other crisis situations.”
In addition to serving a key component in improving the maritime security of Nigeria, the vessel will be used to aid during evacuation operations and disaster relief.
According to the company, LST 100 is scheduled for delivery next year.
In February last year, Damen Shipyards Sharjah officially marked the commencement of the construction on LST 100 landing craft with a keel-laying ceremony.
The company is a provider of LST vessels from 40m up to 120m, which can be customised to meet the specific client requirements.
Damen said that it was selected for this project due to its shipbuilding record and ability to meet delivery timelines. It was able to launch the vessel as planned, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
