France to donate six 12 metre semi-rigid boats to the Libyan Navy

The Libyan Navy will soon take delivery of six 12 metre semi-rigid boats from France. The six donated boats would be purchased from Silinger, a French-based shipbuilding company.

According to the French Ministry of Defense, the donation comes after a high-level meeting between Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj and French armed forces minister Florence Parly.

The semi-rigid boats which would be delivered in the second quarter of 2019 will be used by the Libyan Nay to conduct maritime security operations as well as combating illegal migration across the Mediterranean Sea.

The Libyan Navy is rebuilding its maritime capability after losing much of its equipment during the Libyan Civil War. Thus, in October 2018, Italy donated Corrubia-class (Fezzan) patrol boat to the Libyan Navy.