Taiwan Navy launches amphibious transport warship

Taiwan President, Tsai Ing-wen, on Tuesday presided over a launch ceremony for an amphibious transport ship, which was her country’s first indigenous landing platform.

The amphibious transport dock has been named “Yu Shan” Taiwan’s highest peak, also known as Jade Mountain.

Tsai said at the ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung that the ship, which was the first of a series of new 10,000-tonnes amphibious transport docks, was designed and built based on the needs of Taiwan’s national defence combat training.

“This is an important milestone for our national shipbuilding programme, the ship will help to strengthen Taiwan’s defence capability,” Tsai said.

According to the Navy, the amphibious transport ship is expected to enter service next year in order to support transport missions and amphibious operations.

The 10,600 tonnes ship, which was 153 metres long and 23 metres wide, built by the state-run CSBC Corporation Taiwan and can carry more than 670 soldiers.

CSBC Chairman Cheng Wen-lung said at the ceremony that the 10,600-ton amphibious warfare vessel would be used for the transport of personnel and supplies to Taiwan’s offshore islands and Taiwan-controlled islands in the disputed South China Sea, the state-run Central News Agency reported.

The Navy said the vessel could be also transformed into a hospital ship during disasters for humanitarian assistance.