Hyundai Heavy Industries Delivers Masks Loaded on Philippine Escort Ship

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The latest Philippine frigate built by Hyundai Heavy Industries has set sail for the Philippines carrying masks and other quarantine supplies.

On the 19th, according to Hyundai Heavy Industries, a delivery departure ceremony for the Philippine Navy's 2,600-ton latest frigate, the ‘Jose Rizal’ was held at the Ulsan headquarters, and the ship departed for Subic Bay, Philippines.

The Jose Rizal is a vessel ordered as part of the Philippine Navy's aging ship modernization project. It has a long cruising range of over 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km), enabling long-term offshore patrol duties. It can also operate at a maximum speed of 25 knots (about 46 km/h), and is notable for being the first in the Philippine Navy to operate guided missiles and torpedoes.

On the day of the departure ceremony, the ROK Navy deployed the Seongnam ship to see off the Jose Rizal, and as part of the ‘Thanks to You Challenge,’ they raised a signal flag (giryoo) meaning ‘Thank You’ to wish for the safe voyage of the Jose Rizal.

In particular, Hyundai Heavy Industries loaded quarantine supplies onto the ship, including 20,000 masks, 180 bottles of disinfectant, 2,000 hand sanitizers, and 300 packs of disinfectant tissues, as a gesture of gratitude to the Philippines, a country that participated in the Korean War.

Although the global restrictions on personnel and material movement due to COVID-19 raised concerns about delivery delays, the ship was delivered four months earlier than the originally scheduled delivery date in September.

Nam Sang-hoon, Vice President and Head of the Special Ship Business Division at Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, “With our advanced technology, Hyundai Heavy Industries is leading the Philippine Navy modernization project, and based on the deep trust between the two countries, we will do our best to secure future project orders.”