Philippine Navy’s Landing Dock Arrives in Zamboanga City

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 24, 2017) - The Philippine Navy’s one of two Landing Docks, BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) arrives in Zamboanga City on Thursday (June 22) at Zamboanga City Pier, military official said.

Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) disclosed that the said vessel will be having its “OPEN HOUSE”on Friday, June 23, 2017 to showcase its capability as a landing platform dock as well as to give opportunity to the populace of Zamboanga Cityfor a guided tour aboard ship. Along with Naval Reserve Center-WM and in coordination with all the units of Naval Forces Western Mindanao and the Municipality of Zamboanga City, the Navy will also conduct recruitment activities on the same date aboard ship for interested individuals who wish to join the roster of the Philippine Navy.

RADM Medina said that the arrival of LD602 is aimed at promoting peace, develop friendly relations and bring the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines closer to the hearts of the Zamboanguenos and of the Filipino people in general.

BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) was launched on September 29, 2016 and commissioned in the service of the Philippine Navy on May 31, 2017. She was named after one of the main provinces of Mindanao, Davao del Sur and has a length of 123m (404 ft), beam of 21.8m (72 ft) and has a maximum carrying capacity of 11,583 tons and could last at sea for 30 days. She was the second ship ordered and constructed by the Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL after BRP Tarlac (LD-601) which was delivered in May 2016. LD-602 can transport heavy equipment, supplies and troops anywhere in the archipelago.