Geoje: A steel-cutting ceremony took place in southern South Korea on Wednesday, marking the beginning of construction for a naval combat support ship, as announced by the arms procurement agency.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the event for the country's second auxiliary oil, ammunition, and equipment (AOE-II) ship was held at Hanwha Ocean Co.'s shipyard in Geoje, located about 400 kilometers south of Seoul. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) revealed that the second AOE program, valued at 531.5 billion won (US$360 million), was initiated in 2024 to construct a successor to the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang, which entered service in 2018.
The new vessel is set to incorporate a domestically-developed engineering control system. This system will manage propulsion, electrical power, and auxiliary equipment through a single network, enhancing safety. Additionally, the ship will feature an upgraded video surveillance system designed to automatically detect emergencies such as fires or falls, as stated by DAPA.
The ship is also anticipated to offer improved accommodations and safety for the crew, with noise-reduction features contributing to a more comfortable onboard environment. The construction launch is expected to bolster future opportunities for South Korean shipbuilding, particularly in maintenance, repair, and overhaul projects, the agency further elaborated.