Hyundai Heavy's Latest Escort Ship Sets Sail for the Philippines Carrying 'Boeun Mask'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] The latest Philippine frigate built by Hyundai Heavy Industries set sail for the Philippines on the 18th (Monday), carrying masks and other quarantine supplies.

On the 18th, Hyundai Heavy Industries held a delivery departure ceremony at its Ulsan headquarters for the Philippine Navy's 2,600-ton latest frigate, the ‘Jose Rizal’ ship, and dispatched it to Subic Bay, Philippines.

The Jose Rizal is a vessel ordered as part of the Philippine Navy's aging ship modernization project, boasting a long cruising range of over 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km), enabling long-term offshore patrol duties. It can also operate at a maximum speed of 25 knots (approximately 46 km/h) and is notable for being the first Philippine Navy ship to operate guided missiles and torpedoes.

Although concerns arose about delivery delays due to the global restrictions on personnel and material movement caused by COVID-19, the ship was delivered four months earlier than the originally scheduled delivery date in September. The Republic of Korea Navy deployed the Seongnam ship for the departure ceremony and, as part of the ‘Thanks to You Challenge,’ hoisted a ‘Thank You’ flag (giryoo - flag/gidream) to wish for the safe voyage of the Jose Rizal.

In particular, Hyundai Heavy Industries loaded 20,000 masks, 180 bottles of disinfectant for quarantine, 2,000 hand sanitizers, and 300 packs of disinfectant tissues onto the ship as quarantine supplies, as a gesture of gratitude to the Philippines, a country that participated in the Korean War.

Currently, the Philippines has over 12,000 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases (as of the 17th) and has imposed lockdowns and movement restrictions in three areas, including Metro Manila, the capital region, to control the spread. Hyundai Heavy Industries' support with quarantine supplies is expected to greatly contribute to strengthening friendly relations between the two countries.

Nam Sang-hoon, Vice President and Head of the Special Ship Business Division at Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, "We thank the Ministry of National Defense, the Navy, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, as well as all related parties, for their wholehearted support in enabling the early delivery of the latest frigate." He added, "With advanced technology, Hyundai Heavy Industries will take the lead in the modernization project of the Philippine Navy and will do its best to secure future project orders based on the deep trust between the two countries."

Hyundai Heavy Industries has designed and built over 80 combat ships and submarines, including the first Aegis destroyer Sejong the Great and the next-generation frigate Incheon. Currently, it is focusing its capabilities on the concept design of the LPX-II (large transport ship) and accelerating preparations for the KDDX (Korean next-generation destroyer) project.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.