Ceremonial first steel cutting of Navy’s strategic sealift vessel

From Ang Malaya (Jan 22): Ceremonial first steel cutting of Navy’s strategic sealift vessel

The ceremonial first steel cutting for one Makassar-class Landing Platform Dock, soon joining Philippine Navy as strategic sealift vessel, was held today – Department of National Defense spokesperson Peter Paul Galvez confirms.

Cutting of the first piece of steel to be used for the vessel marks a construction milestone. Delivery of this unit is expected on the second quarter of 2016. The second and final delivery is set on 2017.

This vessel can act as the navy’s floating command center, while carrying out its main purpose as military sealift and transport vessel, in events of disasters and calamities. It will house a presidential and war room to accommodate the commander-in-chief and other high ranking military officials when need arises.

Navy Vice-commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad earlier said that AW-109s will become an on-board component of two Makassar-class vessels. Each SSV is designed to accommodate three helicopters.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/01/22/7663-ceremonial-first-steel-cutting-of-navys-strategic-sealift-vessel