Page 28 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2024

ΙNTERVIEW OF THE MONTH

equally important issue is that the economics of the fighting. Two of them have diesel electric propulsion,
armed forces are governed by a complicated law, a which creates a very low (and therefore difficult to
draconian law (the "Venizelos" law), set in place after locate) acoustic signature. Seeing the international
many political scandals many years ago. The result developments in our area with two wars broiling
of this law is that even buying a handgun takes at and a risky and dangerous geopolitical environment
least three years. developing in our neighborhood, the urgent upgrade
So far, we have renewed the auxiliary engines of of the potential and size of our Navy has become a
three frigates and the large compressors of two or top priority.
three frigates. As for the donations of ships to the Our latest donation, the "Perseas", is a much bigger
Navy, these started with the "Kyknos", a privately ship and has more capabilities. Her 105-meter-long
owned yacht used for cadet training. Before this surface incorporates a number of critical techno-
donation, cadets used to be trained on huge ships, logical innovations that support and augment the
which consumed large quantities of fuel. The "Kyk- operational capabilities of the Hellenic Fleet to a
nos" is a much smaller ship with technical capabili- great extent. She has a hybrid propulsion installa-
ties that improve the training of cadets. tion, electric propulsion with minimal acoustic signa-
Then, we donated three platform supply vessels ture, the ability to transport and deliver at sea F-76
(PSVs) that had been built to extremely high specifi- fuel of about 3,000 cubic meters, a helipad suitable
cations. These ships contribute to safe and efficient for all the Hellenic Armed Forces’ single main rotor
operations that other ships of the Hellenic Navy can- helicopter type, and, though not equipped with
not do. They have been designed as multi-mission actual seismic sensors, she can support seismic and
support ships to replace many different types of geophysical research missions. The ship also has
auxiliary ships, thus providing a variety of options two very large covered decks and an inclined stern
to the user. Their powerful deck crane is suitable from which fast boats can be launched and lifted,
for lifting a wide range of cargo and equipment and as well as three powerful cranes with a capacity of
accommodating it on the huge open deck, which 10 tonnes.
is designed for heavy-load cargo. Greece did not Αll these vessels are extremely helpful, but in order
have a submarine rescue ship, whereas countries for future donations to also help the country’s
like Turkey and Italy did. Now, thanks to our dona- defence, the Navy will have to prioritise its needs. I
tion, Greece also has such a rescue ship. At the same see that many other Greek shipowners stand in sup-
time, the "Iraklis" for example is perfectly suited as a port of the social needs of our country. We have also
NATO command ship. The "Atlas I" and the "Iraklis" supported the Hellenic Navy’s Hospital in Athens
can carry heavy tanks, combat and support vehi- through a donation for the refurbishment of various
cles, cranes, and heavy constructions while having of its departments. Education, culture, health are
the ability to use DP2 (Dynamic Positioning). These areas of interest and benevolence for my colleagues.
ships are also used in refuelling missions of the There are quite a few that have also been more than
fleet’s units, as well as for transporting cargo, tow- generous towards our nations’ security needs. I am
ing, rescuing shipwrecks, diving and lifting objects confident that many more of my colleagues will also
from the sea with exceptional precision, and fire- follow.

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