S. Korea begins construction of fast combat support ship

logistics support ship-construction

S. Korea begins construction of fast combat support ship

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- A steel-cutting ceremony was held in southern South Korea on Wednesday to mark the start of the construction of a naval combat support ship, the arms procurement agency said.

The event for the country's second auxiliary oil, ammunition and equipment (AOE-II) ship took place at a shipyard of Hanwha Ocean Co. in Geoje, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a release.

The second AOE program, worth 531.5 billion won (US$360 million), was launched in 2024 to build a follow-on vessel to the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang, which was commissioned in 2018.

The new vessel is designed to support a domestically-developed engineering control system that controls the propulsion, electrical power and auxiliary equipment through a single network to boost safety.

An upgraded video surveillance system will be installed to automatically detect emergencies, such as a fire or a fall, according to DAPA.

The new ship is also expected to provide improved crew accommodations and safety, with noise-reduction features offering a more comfortable on-board environment, it said.

The launch of the construction is expected to help expand future opportunities for South Korean shipbuilding, including in the area of maintenance, repair and overhaul projects, the agency added.

This photo, provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, shows the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang on Sept. 30, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)