Representing the Philippine National Defense Department, Captain Francis Alexander R Jose was present among a group of delegates during the dispatching of an Indonesian-made warship from Surabaya to Manila. He praised the sophistication of the warship.

"During the speed acceleration of the SSV Tarlac, the vessel proved to be stable and without any shock," Jose said after testing the maximum speed when the ship entered the Makassar Strait, Indonesia, as quoted by Antara news agency.

When met aboard the BRP Tarlac in Philippine waters on Friday, Jose said he was proud of the newly-acquired Indonesian-made ship and expressed gratitude with regard to cooperation during the ordering process.

The ship showcased several sophisticated maneuvers during the voyage, including the "landing craft utility" (LCU) in which two support ships enter through the rear of the vessel.

The LCU is an advanced capability of the "Strategic Sealift Vessel" (SSV) BRP TARLAC (LD-601 ship), where smaller LCU's function as supporting units during coastal wars and can also transport weaponry.

During the showcase, the rear of the SSV TARLAC was sunk to a depth of two meters so that the two support ships could enter. The back entrance of the vessel opened and the two support ships entered. The SSV TARLAC then returned to its original position, disposing of the water that the vessel had taken aboard during the process.

Another maneuver carried out by the ship was a 16.2 knots speed acceleration.

Meanwhile, Kapal Niaga general manager Satriyo Bintoro, who oversaw the inaugural export to Manila, said that all the vessel had performed at an optimal standard during the trip.

Succeeding in an aim to display vessel functions and illustrate the sophistication of advanced features to the Philippine navy who were present during the voyage. (liz/bbn)