Hyundai Heavy Industries Delivers New Zealand's Largest Warship

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The largest military support ship in New Zealand, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, set sail for New Zealand on the 10th.

Hyundai Heavy Industries held a delivery departure ceremony for the New Zealand Navy's latest 26,000-ton military support ship, the 'AOTEAROA,' at its headquarters in Ulsan on the same day.

The departure ceremony was attended by Nam Sang-hoon, Vice President and Head of the Special Ship Business Division at Hyundai Heavy Industries, Philip Turner, New Zealand Ambassador to Korea, Seong Il, International Cooperation Officer of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (Army Brigadier General), among others. The Republic of Korea Navy dispatched the military support ship 'Daecheong' to see off the 'AOTEAROA' and wished for its safe voyage.

The AOTEAROA was ordered by the New Zealand Navy from Hyundai Heavy Industries in July 2016. Measuring 173 meters in length and 24 meters in width, it is the largest ship in the history of the New Zealand Navy. It is intended to supply fuel, food, drinking water, ammunition, and other necessities to New Zealand Navy vessels.

This departure is especially meaningful as it marks the export of a successfully built military support ship based on advanced technology to a country that dispatched warships to Korea during the Korean War. Additionally, South Korea and New Zealand have built a relationship of trust, having signed a 'Military Supplies Cooperation Agreement' last year between the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the New Zealand Ministry of Defense to expand defense industry cooperation between the two countries.

A Hyundai Heavy Industries official stated, "Despite unforeseen circumstances such as COVID-19, the military support ship was able to depart successfully based on strong trust with our customers," adding, "We will take the lead in enhancing the status of 'Made in Korea' in the overseas naval ship market based on advanced technology and construction experience."

Meanwhile, 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 conceptual design of a large transport ship (LPX-II) and accelerating preparations for the Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX) project.

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