THE acquisition of additional strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) for the Navy will depend on the prevailing security environment in the future.
This was stressed by the Department of National Defense (DND) Public Affairs Office chief, Arsenio Andolong, when asked by the Philippines News Agency on whether there are plans to acquire additional SSVs for the Navy.
“At the moment, there are no plans to acquire a third SSV. Our modernization plan, which is based on the Navy’s doctrine, only provides for two,” he added.
“Perhaps, we will consider it in the future when our security environment will require it,” Andolong added.
The Navy has two SSVs now—BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), which is scheduled to be commissioned on May 31.
The BRP Davao del Sur arrived at the Manila South Harbor on May 8 from the PT PAL (Persero) shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia. It took the ship four days to reach Manila.
She was named after the province of Davao del Sur, the home of the country’s highest peak, Mount Apo, and other rare species of flora and fauna.
“It gives due recognition to the province as a sanctuary of natural wonders and rarities, like the country’s highest peak Mount Apo, the most prized Philippine orchid vanda sanderiana, and the endangered Philippine Eagle,” the Navy Spokesman Capt. Lued Lincuna said.
Also, the SSV’s name takes inspiration from a former Navy ship vessel of the same name notable for its accomplishments during during the 1980s.
“Naming the vessel after Davao del Sur is consistent with its predecessor, BRP Tarlac [LD-601], which was also named after a province,” Lincuna added.
The ship was launched on September 29 last year. She is the sister ship of the BRP Tarlac (LD-601), currently the largest Filipino warship in-service.
BRP Tarlac was commissioned in short ceremonies at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor on June 1.
BRP Davao del Sur’s delivery completed the two-unit SSV procurement project with an approved budget contract of P4 billion sourced from the Armed Forces Modernization Act Trust Fund.
Just like BRP Tarlac, BRP Davao del Sur will serve as a floating command-and-control ship, especially in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response and will also serve as a military sealift and transport vessel.
The ship has an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, draft of 5 meters and can carry a payload of 2,800 tons.
She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots and a minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles.
She can carry 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters.
The ship’s motto is “Nos Inveniam Viam”, or “We shall find a way”.