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PT PAL kicks off production of warships for the Philippines
State-owned shipyard PT PAL Indonesia began on Thursday the production of two strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) for the Philippine Navy, the company's first ever foreign order
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tate-owned shipyard PT PAL Indonesia began on Thursday the production of two strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) for the Philippine Navy, the company's first ever foreign order.
PT PAL president director M Firmansyah said the order was an achievement and a challenge in itself, as the US$90 million order was the first from a foreign customer.
"The production follows a long and tight international bidding and selection process," he said in Surabaya as reported by Antara news agency.
Speaking at the first steel cutting ceremony at PT PAL's manufacturing facility, Firmansyah said the warships had a length of 123 meters and a width of 21.8 meters.
The SSVs will have a complement of 121 crewmembers and be able to carry 500 troops as well as four tanks, four trucks, one mobile hospital, two jeeps and two helicopters.
The transport vessel has a tonnage of 10,300 tons with a 6 m draft, and can sail for 30 days with a distance of 9,630 nautical miles. Its maximum speed is 16 knots with a 2x2,920 kw powerplant.
PT PAL's SSV is a modification of the four South Korean-designed, Makassar-class landing platform docks (LPDs). Two LPDs were manufactured in South Korea (KRI Makassar 590 and KRI Surabaya 591), and another two were built in Surabaya (KRI Banjarmasin 592 and KRI Banda Aceh 593).
All four LPDs have been commissioned into the Indonesian Navy's service.
KRI Banjarmasin was sent on a mission to the Philippines for evaluation purposes before PT PAL was awarded the contract.
Meanwhile, Philippine Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Jesus C Millan said he expected that the project would increase his government's defense capabalities.
He added that he believed that PT PAL could fulfill the order, based on its experience in previous ship-building projects. (nvn)(++++)
