NNS Kada, the Nigerian Navy’s new landing ship tank (LST 1314) has arrived Nigeria, on Friday, 27 May and is currently berth at its new home port in Apapa, Lagos.
NNS Kada departed for Nigeria on 1 April and prior to its arrival in Lagos, made stopovers in five countries: Angola (Luanda), Gabon (Port Gentil), Kenya (Mombasa), Oman (Port of Duqm), and South Africa (Cape Town).
The vessel wass ordered from Damen Group in 2019 and built at Albwardy Damen shipyard in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was laid down in December 2019, launched in June 2021, and handed over to the NN in Sharjah on 30 March.
NNS Kada was officially handed over to the Nigerian Navy on 30 March this year after being ordered in May 2018 and launched on 7 June 2021. The vessel was launched on 30 September 2021.
Damen Shipyard began building the LST 100 (LST 1314) towards the end of 2019, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, attending the keel-laying ceremony at Damen’s shipyard in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Based on Damen’s LST 100 design, the ship will be used for a range of duties including strategic transport of equipment and troops, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and to project maritime security into the Gulf of Guinea.
With 1,300 dwt, an overall length of 100 m, and a 16 m beam, the LST can carry a crew complement of 32 plus 16 embarked marine forces (EMF) in the deckhouse, with accommodation for an additional 234 EMF at mid-ship below the main deck.
Kada is powered by two Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines and four Caterpillar C18 generators to provide a top speed of 16 kt and a standard range of 4,000 n miles at 15 kt.
It features a bow ramp and davits for two landing craft, a 540 m² roll-on/off (ro-ro) deck, and a 420 m² cargo deck for dry stores and ammunition.
The ship deck can carry one medium-sized helicopter.
The Nigerian navy has placed an order for a second vessel of the same class. Damen Shipyards has commenced building the second vessel for the Nigerian Navy to help boost it’s amphibious, sealift and logistical standing.