DND, Navy approve delivery of PH’s second brand-new frigate

By: Frances Mangosing - 3 years ago

The Department of National Defense and Philippine Navy inspection team accept and approve the delivery of the country’s second brand new frigate, the future BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), after the final stage of inspection at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. NPAO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine Navy inspection team on Friday (Jan. 29) accepted and approved the delivery of the country’s second brand new frigate, the future BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), after the final stage of inspection at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

Leodegario dela Paz, DND Procurement Service director, found HHI compliant with all deliverable and obligations in its contract with the Philippine government after ship inspection from Jan. 25 to 29, according to Navy spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza in a statement.

PH Navy: The future BRP Antonio Luna is scheduled to leave Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea on Feb. 5 and is expected to arrive in Subic on Feb. 10. pic.twitter.com/mDnREYUq9d

— Frances Mangosing (@FMangosingINQ) January 29, 2021

Navy inspectors, led by Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos, said the warship was built according to technical specifications agreed upon by the Philippine government and HHI. The ship also performed “remarkably well” during harbor sea trials from September to December 2020.

The shipbuilder also provided additional equipment and other items, more training activities, and ship design improvements worth $7.4 million, on top of its contract obligations.

BRP Antonio Luna is scheduled to leave Ulsan, South Korea on Feb. 5 and arrive in Subic on Feb. 10. Negranza said this is one month ahead of the contractual delivery date of March 6, 2021.

A formal commissioning ceremony will be set after crew and officials involved in the ship delivery go on quarantine.

The future BRP Antonio Luna is the second of two 2,600-ton missile-capable frigates built by HHI for the Philippine Navy. Its sister ship, the BRP Jose Rizal, was delivered and commissioned in 2020.

HHI project manager Bokyung Kang said he was “honored and happy to see the finale of this PN frigate project” and the shipbuilder was looking forward to involvement in the construction of more vessels, like corvettes and submarines, for the Philippine Navy.

TSB