Opening of Floating Dry Dock : SSPC Chairman C-in-CDS attended the ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 40,000-ton Floating Dry Dock at the Naval Shipyard Headquarters, the keel laying ceremony for two Anti-Submarine Warfare ships, and the commissioning ceremony of naval vessels were held in the morning of March 8th at the construction workshop of the 40,000-ton Floating Dry Dock and the Naval Jetty in Thanlyin Cantonment.

The Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, attended and graced the occasion. First, upon the arrival of the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and party at the Naval Shipyard Headquarters' 40,000-ton Floating Dry Dock, responsible officials cut the ribbon to open the facility. The SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief then pressed the button to unveil the commemorative stone plaque for the 40,000-ton Floating Dry Dock.

Subsequently, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief and party sprinkled scented water on the commemorative plaque of the Dry Dock Administration Building and inspected the operations inside the Shipyard Management Software room. The second part of the ceremony continued at the construction workshop. In his address, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief stated that today marks a proud and invigorating day for the State and the Tatmadaw, as they have not only successfully constructed and opened the largest Floating Dry Dock of 40,000 tons in Myanmar in terms of both capability and size but also will commission a Frigate, UMS Thalun Min , and four Inland Multipurpose Vessels built by the Navy, alongside the keel laying ceremony for two new naval vessels to be constructed in this new dry dock.

He emphasized the need to establish a capable and robust navy to protect the nation's maritime interests. Regarding the naval shipbuilding sector, he noted that building large Frigates domestically and commissioning them greatly supports the Tatmadaw's national defence and security duties and strengthens Myanmar's maritime territorial sovereignty. Following the address, the SSPC Chairman and attendees watched a documentary video on the construction of the Floating Dry Dock. Afterwards, the Chairman of the company responsible for constructing the Floating Dry Dock at the Naval Shipyard Headquarters handed over related documents to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Shipyard Headquarters.

Then, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) respectfully presented a commemorative gift for the Floating Dry Dock opening ceremony to the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief. In return, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief presented a commemorative fruit basket to the Chairman of the construction company. Subsequently, the keel laying ceremony for the two Anti-Submarine Warfare ships was held. An official explained matters related to the construction of the naval vessels. The SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief then pressed the button to initiate welding, joining the keel and frame to start the construction work for the two Anti-Submarine Warfare ships.

He also sprinkled scented water on the auspicious keel plates and hull components. Following this, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief and officials toured and inspected the step-by-step ship construction process, a photo gallery of the construction, and the interior of the Floating Dry Dock, giving necessary guidance based on officials' reports. The commissioning ceremony for the naval vessels from the Tatmadaw (Navy) was then held at the Naval Jetty in Yangon. The SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, attended.

At the ceremony, Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Admiral Htein Win, explained matters related to the commissioning of the naval vessels. Afterwards, the Commanding Officer of the Naval Shipyard Headquarters handed over documents concerning the commissioning vessels to the Commander of Flotilla (1). The Commander-in-Chief (Navy) then respectfully presented miniature models of the naval vessels as commemorative gifts for the commissioning ceremony to the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief. Next, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief handed over the commissioning ensigns for the vessels to the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), who received them and subsequently handed them over to the respective Commanding Officers.

Following this, Chief of Staff (Navy), Vice Admiral Aye Min Htwe, announced the commissioning of the naval vessels. The procedures of hoisting the National Flag, the Navy Flag, the commissioning pennant, ringing the ship's bell eight times, and other commissioning formalities were carried out in order. Subsequently, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief and officials toured the commissioned vessels, including the Frigate UMS Thalun Min and the four Inland Multipurpose Vessels, with responsible officials providing explanations. Later, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief arrived at the UMS Mottama and signed on the guest book. Then, he reviewed the Guard of Honour from the saluting dais aboard UMS Mottama, and took the salute.

During the salute, UMS Yantaing Aung and UMS Yangyi Aung fired a 21-gun salute in honour of the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief. The Commander-in-Chief (Navy) then respectfully presented the casing of the first round fired during the gun salute as a commemorative gift to the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief. Finally, the SSPC Chairman Commander-in-Chief presented commemorative insignias and certificates of honour from the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services to the officers and other ranks who participated in the construction of the commissioned naval vessels.

The respective recipients accepted them. The Frigate UMS Thalun Min, commissioned today, is the largest naval vessel ever built domestically in the history of the Navy's shipbuilding. It underwent extensive sea trials for over a month, with a total steaming time of 279 hours covering 3,418 nautical miles. During the trials, tests for standards compliance and equipment functionality were conducted successfully, leading to its commissioning today. The ability to domestically construct and commission such vessels significantly contributes to the Tatmadaw's capacity to fulfil its national defence and security duties, it’s learnt.