Coast Guard Signs Agreement with Ecuador Ministry of Defense for 3000-ton Class Vessel

Published 26 Apr.2024 14:31(KST)

Ecuador Minister of National Defense Visits Coast Guard Agency... Confirms Transfer Procedures of Ship 3001 in Mokpo

The Korea Coast Guard (Commissioner Kim Jong-wook) announced on the 26th that it has completed the signing of an agreement for the transfer of a 3,000-ton class vessel and will begin the formal transfer process to Ecuador.

Giancarlo Loffredo, Minister of National Defense of Ecuador, who is visiting Korea, visited the Korea Coast Guard on the 25th to sign the agreement regarding the transfer of the 3001 ship, and then thoroughly inspected the handover procedures at the 3001 ship located in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.

Giancarlo Loffredo, Minister of National Defense of Ecuador, visited the 3001 ship in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do on the 25th to verify the handover procedures and took commemorative photos with officials from the Korea Coast Guard on the 3001 ship.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

The 3001 ship being transferred this time is the first 3,000-ton class vessel in the history of the Korea Coast Guard. It is a large patrol vessel measuring 105 meters in length, 15 meters in width, and 38 meters in height. It was deployed to the Busan Coast Guard Station in 1994 and was decommissioned on the 11th of last month after successfully completing its mission to protect Korean waters for over 30 years.

The Ecuadorian Ministry of National Defense plans to maintain the 3001 ship at a shipyard in Korea for six months, complete training for operational personnel on vessel operation, and then navigate the ship under its own power to Ecuador.

The 3001 vessel will serve as the flagship of the Ecuadorian Navy and will carry out various duties such as protecting territorial sovereignty, cracking down on drug trafficking and maritime crimes, and blocking illegal fishing.

The Ecuadorian Minister of National Defense evaluated, "Once the 3001 ship is deployed to the Ecuadorian Navy, it will make a groundbreaking contribution to national defense, law enforcement, and safety in maritime areas."

He also said, "We expect it will greatly help in the rapid response to similar situations involving Korean-flagged vessels, which pass through our waters about 60 times annually."