Today, at Fincantieri's Shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) there was the delivery ceremony for the last 2 of 4 Patrol Vessels ordered by the Iraqi Navy from Fincantieri. The contract also comprises the provision of logistical support and crew training for each vessel.

 

Representing Iraq at the ceremony was the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Navy, Admiral Ali Hussein, while the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy was represented by the Director General for Naval Constructions and Armaments, Chief Inspector Admiral Dino Nascetti. Fincantieri was represented by the Director of the Naval Vessels Unit, Alberto Maestrini.

The new Patrol Vessels - the "Majed" and the "Shimookh" ("Glory" and "Pride" in English) - will be escorted to the Suez Canal by Italian Navy Vessels and then to Umm Qasr by U.S. Navy Vessels for a voyage to the Persian Gulf of approximately one month. As their sister ships, the "Fateh" and the "Nasir", also the "Majed" and the "Shimookh" on reaching Iraqi territory will immediately start patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone (58 km of coastline rich in oil fields, the country's main economic resource), search and rescue operations, controlling maritime traffic and firefighting.

53.40 metres long and 8 wide, these Vessels can reach a speed of 23 knots and accommodate a crew of 38.