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Navy Academy's annual training voyage begins

The navy yesterday launched its annual 13-week training voyage for all Naval Academy students in their senior year.

The Ministry of National Defense said that the yearly training session -- a program launched in 1966 -- includes sailing once around Taiwan and visiting foreign allies.

The fleet deployed for the course usually consists of two to three vessels.

This year, PFG-1110 Tiandan (田單), a Perry class frigate, and PFG-1202 Kangding (康定), a Lafayette class frigate, were chosen to comprise the fleet.

The naval and marine guards of honors and the naval marching band will participate in the fleet and perform whenever and wherever the fleet docks.

The course also plays a diplomatic role, as the fleet visits foreign allies.

However, the training has experienced complications in the past. In 2004, the training fleet's warfare chief, Wang Jen-chieh (王仁傑), died in the Marshall Islands while diving.

In 2005, Singapore responded to pressure from Beijing by rejecting the fleet's request to dock.

Last year, PFG-1103 Chengho (鄭和), a Perry class frigate, collided with an unidentified object under the water's surface and sustained damage while docking in Palau.

Initially, the state-run Central News Agency reported that the vessel's sonar system was damaged but the military later said the ship's propellers, and not its sonar system, had been damaged.

This year's training fleet docked yesterday at the Kaohsiung military harbor, the first stop on its route.

The ministry said the fleet would stay in Kaohsiung until today.

The fleet is scheduled to dock in Hualien from Monday to Tuesday; in Suao (蘇澳) from Wednesday to Thursday, in Keelung from Saturday to March 11; in Makung (馬公) from March 12 to March 13; and in Taichung from March 16 to March 19.

The six ports will offer open days to the public to mark the fleet's visit.
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