The acquisition and eventual deployment of the country's
first strategic sealift vessel (SSV) is part of the Philippine Navy (PN) to
transform itself into a "blue-water navy".
The latter refers to a maritime force capable of operating
across the deep waters of open oceans.
This was disclosed by Philippine Fleet commander Rear
Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado shortly after the welcoming ceremonies for BRP
Tarlac, the country's first SSV, at Pier 13, South
Harbor , Manila
Monday afternoon.
"Modernization (is) transforming the Navy from (a)
coastal (defense force) to (one capable of conducting) exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) patrols. (Acquisition of SSVs and other modern ships) is our venture to
becoming a blue-water navy," he added.
EEZ is a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights
regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy
production from water and wind.
It stretches from the baseline out to 200 nautical miles
from its coast.
As this develops, Mercado said the PN is still looking at
designs of possible weapons to install at BRP Tarlac.
He also assured the public that the ship will be given a
self-defense capability despite the fact it will be always be escorted by at
least one major surface unit when on deployment.
The SSVs are a multi-role vessel and very useful for
humanitarian and disaster relief missions and can be transformed to a floating
government center if required.
The SSV acquisition project for the PN was initiated upon
the approval of Acquisition Decision Memorandum Number 2012-060 by Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin last Oct. 30, 2013.
Furthermore, these vessels are critical assets for
civil-military operations due to their capability of transporting large number
of soldiers, logistics, and supplies.
Moreover, each SSV has the capacity to house three
helicopters. The Navy’s Augusta Westland-109s are programmed to be on-board
components of these vessels.
These forthcoming landing platform dock strategic sealift
vessels will improve the transport capability of the PN and boost the defense
capabilities of the country.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=885815
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