Asia

Indonesian-made ship is newest addition to Philippine navy

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Families of Philippine navy crew wave their country flags to welcome its new ship named BRP Davao del Sur at Manila's South Harbor for a ceremony to be led by Rear Adm. Gaudencio Collado Jr., commander of the Philippine Fleet Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine navy welcomed Wednesday the second Indonesian-made amphibious landing dock as part of the military's modernization program. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Philippine navy crew pull a rope as its new ship named BRP Davao del Sur is docked at Manila's South Harbor for a ceremony to be led by Rear Adm. Gaudencio Collado Jr., commander of the Philippine Fleet Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine navy welcomed Wednesday the second Indonesian-made amphibious landing dock as part of the military's modernization program. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

An Indonesian flag flutters from the rear deck of the new Philippine Navy ship named BRP Davao del Sur as it docks at Manila's South Harbor Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine navy welcomed Wednesday the second Indonesian-made amphibious landing dock as part of the military's modernization program. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

The Philippine navy welcomed on Wednesday a second Indonesian-made amphibious landing dock as part of the military's modernization program.

The new ship named BRP Davao del Sur arrived at Manila's South Harbor to a ceremony led by Rear Adm. Gaudencio Collado Jr., commander of the Philippine Fleet.

The delivery completes a 3.8 billion peso ($76 million) procurement of two such vessels from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia, said navy spokesman Capt. Lued Lincuna.

The ship sailed from Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, with 120 Filipino sailors and a 10-man Indonesian delivery crew.

The BRP Tarlac, the first of the two Indonesian-made ships, arrived in the country last year. It has already taken part in missions including a naval blockade against militants, seajackings and kidnappings in southern Philippine waters.

Both ships serve as command-and-control vessels during humanitarian operations as well as for military sealift and transport, Lincuna said.