First Strategic Sealift Vessel to be Named After Key PHL City

The country’s first strategic sealift vessel (SSV), which is expected to be delivered in May, will be named after a key Philippine city, a Philippine Navy official said.

PN Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said the SSV will be named after a city like BRP Dagupan (LCC-551) and BRP Bacolod City (LCC-550), both landing and transport ships.

While these vessels are named after key cities, frigates and other surface combatants are named after Filipino heroes and military personnel who have shown dedication and gallantry in serving the nation.

The Philippines has a two SSV deal with Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL (Persero) worth PHP3.87 billion.

The ships are estimated to weigh around 7,300 gross register tons.

The SSVs will be the largest ships in PN service upon delivery.

Arevalo earlier said the first SSV is now 87 percent complete and will be launched this month.

Eight seven percent completion means the ship’s keel, propulsion, engine and other major systems are now installed.

The second SSV, now 46 percent complete, will be delivered in 2017, Arevalo added.

Arevalo said defensive armament of the ships will be installed by the PN. (PNA) JMC/PFN