MADRID, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Spanish and South African companies are teaming to jointly develop naval systems and vessels for South Africa and other African nations.
The partnering by Navantia, a Spanish shipbuilder, and the Paramount Group, comes under a memorandum of understanding signed late last week and is an outgrowth of earlier cooperation on a south African naval project.
"Navantia and Paramount have been collaborating in the last months on a joint offshore patrol vessel proposal for Project BIRO for the South African Navy," said Navantia President Jose Manuel Revuelta. "An excellent relationship between both companies has been established and this agreement is a step further that sets the basis for cooperation on new business opportunities in South Africa and other countries in the region and broader international market.
"Navantia's experience in the design and construction of world-leading technology naval vessels and systems, transfer of technology, and through-life cycle support provides a key benefit to offer well-proven, low risk and value for money solutions for customers."
The companies have chosen five key areas for cooperation: through-life support management, combat systems and platform systems integration, procurement management of materials and equipment, operational maintenance training and technology transfer.
The companies said the agreement comes amid a growing need to protect and secure Africa's coastlines, great lakes and rivers, and political and economic assets, such as oil pipelines, shipping lanes, national borders and fisheries.
"There has never been a greater need for naval security in the waters around South Africa and the rest of the continent," said Paramount's Group International Marketing Director Eric Ichikowitz . "New oil and gas resources are being discovered every month and those resources, together with industries like tourism and fisheries, are critical to the growth of African states. "
