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Ayman Amzein.
Tripoli, 23 June 2013:
Benghazi Naval Base has acquired a new French-made speedboat as part of a move to upgrade its . . .[restrict]fleet and help protect Libya’s coastline.
The naval vessels already stationed in Benghazi’s marine basin all sounded their horns to welcome the new arrival, named ‘Janzour,’ at a ceremony to mark the occasion.
The 20-metre long, four-metre wide vessel can reach speeds of up to 30 knots. It is one of two military speedboats ordered by the Libyan Navy as part a fleet rejuvenation plan to upgrade equipment to protect the country’s coastline, according to the head of the Benghazi Marine Base press office, Colonel Mehdi Abu-Khamada.
The second speedboat, named ‘Ekrima’ has been stationed at Tobruk Naval Base. These vessels, Abu-Khamada said, will provide protection to the country’s eastern shores.
The two boats are part of a 50-vessel order signed with French manufacturer Sillinger at the Tripoli Military Fair in January this year. The company recently delivered 30 semi-rigid fast patrol boats, which put on a high-speed display in Tripoli harbour. [/restrict]
