Two more foreign shipbuilders join PN's P18-B frigate program

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Two more foreign shipbuilders join PN's P18-B frigate program

Two more foreign shipbuilders have joined the Philippine Navy's P18-billion frigate program, according to PN technical working group head Commodore Roland Mercado.

These firms are Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. of India and STX France SA, Mercado said.

They were allowed to join in the bidding after their motions for reconsideration were considered by the Department of National Defense (DND) Special Bidding Awards Committee.

They were earlier excluded from the project due to deficiency documents.

These companies now join Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) of Spain and South Korean firms STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Heavy Industries Inc. which passed the first stage of the bidding.

Mercado said they are now conducting technical discussions with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. of India and STX France SA.

"After which we will draft the final technical specifications (of the frigates)," he added.

Design assessments of the frigate proponents started last February.

The bidders were given five working days to present their concept.

During this period, hull, power plant, communications, and weapon systems designs were scrutinized closely by the technical working group.

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