Latest news with #RoyalMoroccanNavy
Morocco World
11-08-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
India's INS Tamal Concludes Exercise with Royal Moroccan Navy Ship Mohammed VI
Marrakech – India's newest stealth frigate, INS Tamal, completed a three-day port visit to Casablanca from August 6-9. This marks the third Indian naval vessel to visit Morocco in the past two years, in a sign of the growing maritime cooperation between the two countries. Commissioned in Russia on July 1, INS Tamal is returning to India via multiple European and Asian ports as part of India's broader maritime diplomacy efforts. During the port call, the ship's crew engaged in various activities aimed at strengthening bilateral naval relations. These included professional discussions with senior Moroccan military officials, cross-deck visits, sports competitions, yoga sessions, and cultural exchanges. The Indian Ministry of Defense stated: 'The port call at Casablanca is indicative of the importance India attaches to its relations with Morocco and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. It also provided an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and explore new avenues of cooperation.' Key interactions occurred with Captain Rachid Sadrhazi, Commander of the 1st Naval Base; Captain-Major Hasan Akouli, Commander of the Central Maritime Sector; Brigadier General Jamal Kaztouf, Delegated Commander of Weapons for the Casablanca Area; and Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Rear-Admiral Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Navy. Indian Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana, visited the ship, where he engaged with both Moroccan naval leadership and the Indian crew. As INS Tamal departed Casablanca, it conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Royal Moroccan Navy Ship Mohammed VI, demonstrating operational coordination between the two naval forces. This port visit builds on already substantial New Delhi-Rabat relations. Trade between the countries has shown steady growth, with India exporting $101 million to Morocco in March, while importing $46 million during the same period. The bilateral relationship underwent a profound diplomatic leap following King Mohammed VI's historic 2015 visit to India during the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit Since then, Indian business presence in Morocco has expanded considerably, with Indian companies operating across various sectors, including automotive, IT, green technologies, and hospitality. The number of Indian companies in Morocco has grown from 12 to 40 in recent years. Notable Indian firms operating in the North African country include Tata Motors, Sterling and Wilson, Larsen and Toubro, Sumilon, and Furnace Fabrica. Defense cooperation now forms a critical axis of bilateral engagement. In 2024, Morocco received 90 military trucks from India's Tata Group. The same year, Morocco's military and TATA Advanced Systems Limited formed a partnership to domestically produce the WhAP 8×8 armored combat vehicle. INS Tamal will continue its journey home, making additional port calls that further India's diplomatic and maritime engagement across Europe and Asia. Tags: casablanca portMorocco and Indiaroyal moroccan navy
United News of India
10-08-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
INS Tamal concludes successful Casablanca visit en route to India
New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) INS Tamal, the Indian Navy's newest stealth frigate, has completed a port call at Casablanca, Morocco, on her way to India. Commissioned in Russia on July 1, INS Tamal is transiting back to her home base via multiple European and Asian ports, advancing India's maritime diplomacy and reinforcing bilateral ties. INS Tamal is the third Indian Naval Ship in the last two years to visit Casablanca. A statement from the naval spokesperson stated that during the three-day port call, the ship engaged in a host of activities focused on furthering cooperation and collaboration between the two navies. Bilateral discussions with senior military officials, cross deck visits, sports fixtures, yoga and cultural exchanges by both sides in honour of Indo-Moroccan relations were conducted as part of the port call. The ship's crew interacted with Captain Rachid Sadrhazi, Commander of the 1st Naval base, Captain-Major Hasan Akouli, Commander of the Central Maritime sector, Brigadier General Jamal Kaztouf, Delegated Commander of Weapons of Casablanca Area and Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, the Rear-Admiral inspector of the Royal Moroccan Navy. The Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Sanjay Rana visited the ship and interacted with senior military officials of the Moroccan Navy and the ship's crew. On departure from Casablanca, the ship undertook a Passage Exercise with Royal Moroccan Navy Ship Mohammed VI. The port call at Casablanca is indicative of the importance India attaches to its relations with Morocco and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. It also provided an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and explore new avenues of cooperation. Enroute to her home base in India, the ship will visit multiple European and Asian ports furthering bilateral ties across the spectrum, the statement added. UNI PWS RN
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Spain Allocates €113,000 for Halal Meals for Moroccan Military Trainees
The Spanish government has announced a budget of €113,000 (Approximately $129,000) to cover halal meal provisions for Moroccan military personnel currently undergoing training at the state-owned Navantia shipbuilding company. The funding is specifically allocated for catering during the training sessions held at the San Fernando shipyard, under an agreement with Morocco, ensuring all meat served is halal-certified and strictly excluding alcohol and pork products. According to the contract, meals must be nutritious and varied while fully complying with Islamic dietary laws, which means no pork or alcohol, and only halal-certified meats can be used. Navantia is set to train up to 86 Moroccan soldiers between February 2025 and June 2026, preparing them to operate a new naval vessel. S cheduled for delivery in mid-2026, this vessel in question is part of a significant modernization effort by the Royal Moroccan Navy, marking the first warship built by a Spanish shipyard for Morocco in nearly four decades. The ship features a flight deck capable of supporting a 10-ton helicopter or drones, along with a hangar for air operations, and is equipped with two 8-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats for auxiliary missions. Construction of the vessel— 87 meters long, 13 meters wide, and supports a crew of 60 personnel – is expected to generate over one million work hours and create approximately 1,100 jobs over three and a half years.
Ya Biladi
23-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Spain to launch Royal Moroccan Navy patrol vessel next week
The Spanish state-owned company Navantia is set to launch the Avante 1800 patrol vessel, ordered by the Royal Moroccan Navy, on May 27, according to an announcement made Friday by a Spanish media outlet. The vessel, currently under construction at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, is scheduled for delivery in 2026. In September 2022, the Moroccan government signed a €95 million loan agreement with Banco Santander to finance the construction of the patrol vessel. The contract with Navantia includes a comprehensive technical and logistical support package, covering spare parts, tools, technical documentation, and training for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. The patrol vessel will be 87 meters long and 13 meters wide, with capacity for a crew of 60. The total investment is estimated at €130 million, making it the largest defense contract Morocco has ever signed with the Spanish military industry. Between 1991 and 2020, Morocco signed defense contracts with Spain totaling approximately €385 million, €165 million of which was allocated to military transport vehicles.
Morocco World
30-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Navantia's Avante 1800 for Royal Moroccan Navy Takes Shape for 2026 Delivery
Doha – Construction of the new Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Moroccan Navy continues at a steady pace at Navantia's San Fernando shipyard in Cádiz. The vessel, which represents a major upgrade to Morocco's naval capabilities, is scheduled for delivery in mid-2026. The project officially began with steel cutting in July 2023, followed by the keel laying ceremony on September 6, 2024, at San Fernando's dock number 3. During this working event, Colonel Major Mohammed Sallouh of the Moroccan Navy was welcomed by Navantia's President Ricardo Domínguez, Operations and Business Director Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero, and Director of Corvettes and Maritime Action Vessels Alberto Cervantes. 'The placement of the block on the dock, assisted by cranes, marks the beginning of construction where the ship starts taking shape,' a Navantia spokesperson noted, adding that fabrication of subsequent blocks continues in various workshops. Earlier in January 2024, Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Royal Navy, personally visited Navantia's facilities to monitor the patrol vessel's construction progress. The vessel, which will be Navantia-San Fernando's 565th construction, boasts impressive specifications: 87 meters in length, 13 meters in beam, and a full-load displacement of approximately 2,020 tons. It will accommodate a crew of 60 personnel and achieve a maximum speed of 24-26 knots, powered by a Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system featuring four MAN 175D main engines supported by five Baudouin 6 M26.3 generator sets. With an operational range of about 4,000 nautical miles at an economical speed of 15 knots, the Avante 1800 is designed for extended maritime deployments with reduced operational and lifecycle costs. Read also: Morocco Launches Bid for Africa's Largest Shipyard in Casablanca The ship features a flight deck capable of supporting a 10-ton helicopter or vertical takeoff drones, along with a hangar for air operations. Its equipment includes two 8-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) for auxiliary missions. While official armament configurations for the Moroccan version remain undisclosed, the versatile Avante 1800 design typically accommodates a 76mm or 57mm main gun, remote-controlled weapon stations of 25mm or 30mm caliber, and various missile systems. This project was financially secured in September 2022, when the Moroccan government announced the signing of a €95 million loan with Banco Santander to help finance the vessel valued at €130 million. The broader program is estimated at around €260 million for two units, with Morocco retaining options for one or two additional vessels in the future. The construction will generate over one million work hours and approximately 1,100 direct and indirect jobs over three and a half years. The contract also includes technical and logistical support, comprising spare parts, tools, technical documentation, and training services for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. This patrol vessel represents the first warship built by a Spanish shipyard for Morocco in nearly four decades, following the corvette 'Teniente Coronel Errahmani' delivered by then-Empresa Nacional Bazán (now Navantia) in March 1983. The Avante 1800 will join Morocco's modernizing fleet, which already includes the FREMM frigate Mohammed VI and three SIGMA-class corvettes, enhancing the country's capabilities in economic zone surveillance, anti-trafficking operations, pollution control, search and rescue, and rapid intervention missions. Tags: Navantiaroyal moroccan navy
