STM, Türkiye’s leading naval engineering company, has marked a new milestone in its strategic export program for the Portuguese Navy with the steel cutting ceremony of the second Logistics Support Ship, N.R.P. D. DINIS (A5212), held in Istanbul.
The ceremony officially launches construction activities for the second vessel under the program, which is being executed by STM as main contractor. The project represents Türkiye’s first-ever naval ship export to a European Union and NATO member state, underscoring a significant step in Türkiye–EU defence industrial cooperation.
The event was attended by representatives of the Portuguese Navy, STM executives, and engineering teams from STM and ADA Shipyard, reflecting the program’s joint industrial structure and close operational coordination.
⚓ Portekiz Deniz Kuvvetleri Denizde İkmal ve Lojistik Destek Gemisi (AOR+) Projesi – İkinci Gemi N.R.P. D. DINIS Sac Kesim Töreni 🇵🇹🤝🇹🇷
⚓ Portuguese Navy Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ship (AOR+) Project – Steel Cutting Ceremony of the Second Ship, N.R.P. D. DINIS… pic.twitter.com/eLOVN6lBhp
— STM (@STMDefence) June 18, 2026
Strategic Export Milestone for Turkish Naval Engineering
STM was selected as the winning bidder in the Portuguese Navy’s Logistics Support Ship tender, outperforming several leading international shipbuilders. The contract was signed on 17 December 2024 in Lisbon, following the completion of the design phase. Construction of the first vessel began with a steel cutting ceremony in November 2025, followed by keel laying in January 2026. With work on the lead ship progressing as scheduled, the second vessel now enters the production phase.
Speaking at the ceremony, STM Deputy General Manager Bülent Soydal highlighted the significance of the program for Türkiye’s naval export capability and STM’s growing international footprint:
“Primarily serving the Turkish Navy, STM also contributes to the defence capabilities of friendly and allied navies, from Ukraine to Portugal and from Pakistan to Malaysia. Today marks another important milestone in the Portuguese Navy Logistics Support Ship Project as we officially commence construction of the second ship, N.R.P. D. DINIS. With experience from 44 naval projects across 11 shipyards, we are proud to deliver NATO-compliant, mission-ready platforms. We aim to launch both ships in 2027 and deliver them to the Portuguese Navy in 2028.”
Multi-Role Logistics and Operational Flexibility
The Logistics Support Ships are designed as multi-purpose Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR+) platforms, capable of supporting both peacetime and wartime naval operations. Beyond traditional replenishment-at-sea missions, the vessels are configured for command and control, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, medical support, amphibious operations, and regional power projection.
Each 137-meter vessel features a displacement of over 11,000 tons, a range exceeding 14,000 nautical miles, and an endurance of up to 30 days at sea. The ships can accommodate up to 100 personnel and transport up to 20 light tactical armored vehicles via a stern Ro-Ro ramp.
In addition to logistics roles, the platforms are equipped with integrated combat and sensor systems, including close-in weapon systems, 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon stations, and decoy and chaff systems. Aviation facilities include a helicopter landing deck and UAV hangar, enabling sustained air operations and unmanned mission support.
Strengthening Long-Term Naval Industrial Cooperation
The program continues to stand as a flagship example of Türkiye’s expanding role in international naval shipbuilding, demonstrating advanced engineering capability, competitive design maturity, and NATO-standard compliance. With the construction of the second vessel now underway, the program moves further into full-scale execution, reinforcing long-term industrial cooperation between Türkiye and Portugal.
