KSOE wins order for offshore patrol vessels from the Philippines

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) received a 744.9 billion won ($579.5 million) order for six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from the Philippines. KSOE, 35.05 percent owned by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Holdings..

Korea Shipbuidling & Offshore Engineering President Ka Sam-Hyun, right, and Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines Delfin N. Lorenzana, left, stand for a photo session after the signing of a contract for six offshore patrol vessels on Monday at the Department of National Defense complex in Manila. [KSOE]

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) received a 744.9 billion won ($579.5 million) order for six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from the Philippines.

KSOE, 35.05 percent owned by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Holdings, announced on Monday that it signed a contract with the Philippines Department of National Defense for the construction of six 2,400-ton OPV vessels to be delivered by 2028.

The signing ceremony was held at the Philippines Department of National Defense complex in Manila, with attendees including the Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines Delfin N. Lorenzana, KSOE President Ka Sam-Hyun, HHI naval & special ship business unit Chief Operating Offer Nam Sang-Hoon and Ambassador of Korea to the Philippines Kim In -chul.

The 2,400-ton vessels will be 94.4 meters in length and 14.3 meters wide, have a maximum speed of 22 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles.

The vessels will be built at HHI’s Ulsan shipyard. They are to be equipped with a 76-millimeter main gun, two 30-millimeter secondary guns and a helideck for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

“I am glad that our strategy, in which we preemptively developed and exported various types of naval vessels by studying global market demand, has come to fruition,” Nam said. “We will continue to lead the naval ship market by focusing on technological development through intensive investment in R&D, along with business diversification.”

HHI also signed a contract on the same day for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of two BRP Jose Rizal Class Frigates as part of its expansion of its naval ship services business.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]