The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos, accompanied by the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis visited today the Hellenic Shipyards at Skaramangas and joined brief sea trial of the submarine PIPINOS.
After the sea trial, Mr. Avramopoulos made the following statement:
“In the context of the first sea trials, we visited today, along with the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, the shipyards at Skaramangas and joined a trial of “Pipinos”, this excellent technological achievement we launched into water a few days ago.
The Greek Navy, which has overcome all these problems, is even more enhanced. Its role will be important for both our national security, as well as for any missions it will be assigned, in the name of international legal order.
I would like to thank the chief, as well as the captain and the crew of the submarine, with their competence, training and proficiency, they guarantee the effectiveness of this weapon in the hands of our capable men, and f the Hellenic Navy.
I would like to wish good and safe voyages both when submerged and surfaced. May they always be healthy and feel proud of their mission.
I would also like to especially refer to the employees at the shipyards.
As I had the opportunity to say since the first day, as well as after the launching of this submarine, its construction was completed by Greek hands and Greek minds.
The enormous possibilities of our shipbuilding and ship repair industry principally relate to our high-levelled, specialised personnel. We should stand by their side and gradually resolve the remaining problems, so that the country’s infrastructure will be the peak of Greece’s growth and progress”.