Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday emphasized the importance of strengthening national defense in the country’s pursuit of peace and prosperity, as she oversaw the delivery of the fourth 1,000-tonne class patrol cutter Hualien to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).
Speaking at a handover ceremony at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣中船) Keelung shipyard, Hsiao highlighted the need for a modernized coast guard fleet in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
“In the face of global uncertainty, from the war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East, we are reminded that peace has never been something to take for granted, but rather something that must be safeguarded together,” she said.
Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO, EPA
“For Taiwan to ensure steady economic growth and the well-being of its people, it must also strengthen its own security and defense,” she added.
Hsiao also christened the CGA’s fifth 1,000-tonne cutter, Penghu, which is to be delivered later.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the name “Hualien” was chosen shortly after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the county on April 3 last year, adding that she hoped the vessel would embody the same resilience and courage displayed by residents in the disaster’s aftermath.
The Hualien is one of six advanced vessels commissioned under a CGA procurement program, with the final ship scheduled for delivery in 2027, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Jeng-horng (陳政宏) said.
The vessel measures 98.5m in length, 13.2m in width and has a maximum speed of 24 knots (44kph), Chen said.
The vessel is armed with the Zhenhai rocket system, which can be fitted with 42 2.75-inch rockets or flares, enabling it to carry out nighttime search-and-rescue operations, he said.
The larger size of the current generation of patrol cutters allows them to better withstand high winds and rough seas, keeping their helicopter decks operational in wind speeds of up to 38kph, he added.
The new 1,000-tonne cutters are also equipped with two lifeboats capable of reaching speeds of 35 knots, which can be deployed for maritime law enforcement and anti-smuggling missions, Chen said.
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