Vietnam receives its first Dutch-designed, indigenously-built submarine rescue ship

Isa Khan · Aug 6, 2021

The Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) has received its first indigenously-built MSSARS 9316-class multi-purpose submarine rescue ship.

A ceremony was held on 30 July 2021 at the state-owned Factory Z189 of the General Department of Defense Industry in Hai Phong, with the presence of the Chief of the VPN Rear Admiral Tran Tranh Nghiem, Deputy Director of the General Department of Defense Industry Major General Luong Thanh Chuong, and representatives from Dutch shipbuilder Damen Group.

The ship, named the Yet Kieu (927), was designed by Damen Group based on its Rescue Gear MSSARS 9316 design, but was built locally as part of the deal between the Dutch shipbuilder and the Vietnamese Government.

The ship started construction in 2018 and followed strict process under the close supervision of Damen Group and Lloyd’s Register.

It was launched on 03 December 2019. But it took more than a year to complete it fit out works and installation of rescue equipment.

The Yet Kieu has a displacement of 3,950 tons, a length of 93.11 meters, a maximum width of 15.99 meters, a height of 7.20 meters, and a maximum draught of 4.25 meters.

It is equipped with a modern propulsion system that allows a maximum speed of 16 knots, an endurance of 30 days, an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles, and can withstand up to level-9 waves and level-12 winds.

The ship is equipped with to allow for submarine search and rescue missions, surveying and exploring underwater objects and features, and perform other assigned tasks. It also has medical, lifesaving equipment.

The VPN was in need of a new submarine rescue ship to support its fleet of 6 Project 636 Kilo-class diesel electric submarines from Russia. The need for such asset was further emphasized with the recent fatal accident involving a Cakra-class submarine of the Indonesian Navy this year.