Earlier this month the second of three Sigma Class frigates, the Sultan Moulay Ismail (#614), was handed over to the Royal Moroccan Navy by the builders, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS), Netherlands. The first frigate, the Tarik Ben Ziyad (#613) was commissioned in September 2011, the third ship (#615) is due for delivery later this year. The second and third ships have an LOA of 98 mand displacement of 2,075 t. Propulsion is by twin Pielstick 20PA6B STC diesel engines each rated at 8,910 kW at 1,094 rpm. Maximum speed is 28 kn, at the economy speed is 14 kn giving a range of 4,800 nm. Sigma offers a flexible series of variants described as corvettes or frigates. The program has attracted several export orders. [More]