Esquimalt: A South Korean Navy submarine has arrived at a port in Canada for joint drills with the Royal Canadian Navy amid Seoul's push to win a Canadian submarine deal estimated at around 60 trillion won (US$39.6 billion). The 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho entered a port at the Canadian naval base in Esquimalt, Victoria, on the country's southwest coast after traveling some 14,000 kilometers via Guam and Hawaii, marking the first trans-Pacific voyage ever undertaken by a South Korean submarine, according to the Navy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the voyage demonstrates the ability of domestically built naval submarines to carry out long-term missions. The ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, accompanied by a 3,100-ton Daejeon frigate, departed from the naval base in South Korea's southeastern port of Jinhae on March 25. Two Canadian submariners joined South Korean crew members in Hawaii for the final leg of the journey to Victoria.
The trans-Pacific voyage comes as a South Korean consortium of Hanwha Ocean Co. and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. competes against Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, in partnership with Norway, for Canada's planned fleet of up to 12 conventionally powered submarines. A decision on the winning bidder is expected in June.
Earlier this month, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, and Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson in Ottawa to discuss the submarine project and garner support for the South Korean consortium's bid. Kim had previously visited Canada in January and March to back the bid.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul and Lee Yong-cheol, head of the state arms procurement agency, were scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony for the South Korean vessels hosted by the Canadian Navy. Prior to the vessels' arrival, Kim engaged in discussions in Ottawa with Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, head of the Royal Canadian Navy, who is set to become the next second-in-command of the Canadian Armed Forces.
During the meeting, Kim emphasized the operational capabilities of South Korean-built submarines and assured that the government would offer full support if Canada selects a South Korean submarine for the project. Following their participation in the joint drills with the Royal Canadian Navy, the vessels are set to be involved in the U.S.-led multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise in Hawaii in late June before returning to South Korea.