VARD signs MOU with ASFAT

Vard Marine Inc. reports that it has signed Memorandum of Understanding with Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane İşletme A.Ş. (ASFAT) in Turkey to promote a strategic partnership where Vard Marine provides the design of a wide range of paramilitary vessels and ASFAT coordinates construction of select projects at their approved naval shipyards in Turkey. The MOU provides an opportunity for Vard Marine to expand operations in the region and to collaborate with other companies in both Canada and Turkey.

Vard Marine president and CEO Dave McMillan commented: "We are proud to have been selected for this prestigious partnership by ASFAT and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship providing ship design services for indigenous Naval and Coast Guard programs as well as other international opportunities that benefit both parties.”
 
Vard Marine, with offices in Canada, USA and Vietnam, specialises in the development of advanced technology and its application to offshore, paramilitary and specialised vessel designs and offers ship design, engineering and shipbuilding technology services to the marine community in North America and select international markets.  

Vard Marine Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vard Group AS. VARD, together with its subsidiaries, is one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels.

VARD is headquartered in Alesund, Norway which in turn has FINCANTIERI S.p.A as its majority shareholder.  Headquartered in Trieste, Italy, FINCANTIERI  , one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, has built more than 7,000 vessels over its 200 years of maritime history.  It is leader in cruise ship design and construction and a reference player in all high-tech shipbuilding industry sectors, from naval to offshore vessels, from high-complexity special vessels and ferries to mega yachts, as well as in ship repairs and conversions, production of systems and mechanical and electrical component equipment and after-sales services.

ASFAT within the body of Ministry of National Defense, Turkey was formed in 2018 in order to manage and utilise the facilities and capabilities of the 27 military factories and 3 naval shipyards to serve the global defense industry benefiting from Turkish national facilities. ASFAT Inc. operates under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense. The General Board of ASFAT Inc. is headed by the Minister of National Defense while the Chair of Executive Board is Deputy Minister. ASFAT Inc. is authorized to utilize 30 defense industry factories and maintenance & repair centers besides the labor force of more than 27.000 workers. ASFAT Inc. functions by taking orders both from the public and private customers, national and international purchasers. ASFAT Inc. also participates in bids in accord with the customers’ requirements providing common production and design solutions, conducting research and development activities as well as by improving the conditions of military factories and shipyards.