RIYADH: Construction has begun on a state-of-the-art frigate being built for Saudi Arabia by one of America’s leading shipyards. A keel laying ceremony took place on Thursday at Fincantieri’s Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin. The ship’s name was revealed as “His Majesty King Saud’s Ship.” The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Commander Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghufaili, attended the ceremony along with the the military attaché at the Kingdom’s embassy in Washington and Ottawa. The ship is one of four Multi-Mission Surface Combatant vessels being built as part of a contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2019. The ships will contribute to raising the level of the navy’s combat readiness, enhancing maritime security in the region, and protecting the Kingdom’s strategic and vital interests, Saudi Press Agency reported. The project includes qualifying and training crews and technical and logistical support.