Philippine Navy’s First Strategic Sealift Vessel Built by Indonesia to Arrive Saturday

BRP Tarlac now inside Philippine territory.

Manila, 06 Sya’ban 1437/14 May 2016 (MINA) – The Philippine Navy is getting its first brand-new transport vessel Saturday.

The BRP Tarlac was built in Indonesia using South Korean technology, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Landing Dock 601 has already departed PT PAL (Persero) shipyard at Surabaya, Indonesia last May 9 and is now en route to the Philippines, according to Capt. Lued Lincuna, Navy spokesman.

“The ship will anchor at the designated area, while the crew will undergo Customs, Immigration and Quarantine before she docks at Pier 13 on May 16,” Lincuna said.

Navy seamen were sent to Indonesia to train in operating and handling the huge vessel.

One of the two strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) that the Philippines has procured from Indonesia’s PT PAL shipbuilder costs P3.8 billion.

The arrival of Tarlac, a 7,000-ton landing platform dock ship, will be in time for the Navy’s 118th anniversary where President Aquino is expected to attend and perform his last act as commander-in-chief.

This acquisition is under the modernization program of the Armed Forces to bolster the Navy’s sealift capabilities in times of disaster and seaborne operations.

At any given time, the huge vessel can transport huge volumes of logistics as well as troops.

The strategic sealift vessel can also accommodate three helicopters, as well as smaller gunboats.

It is also designed to serve as a forward naval hospital in times of natural and man-made calamities. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)