TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Navy plans to proceed with two rescue vessel procurement programs.
The Navy will acquire two Dawu-class rescue ships between 2027 and 2033 for NT$21.8 billion (US$676 million), Liberty Times reported. Each ship measures approximately 87 meters in length, 15.5 meters in width, and has a draft of about 5 meters. The ships will each be equipped with a diving bell and a remotely operated vehicle capable of reaching depths of up to 500 meters.
The Navy already has one Dawu-class ship in service.
The ships will also have firefighting water cannons with a range of 120 meters that can switch between seawater and foam for tackling oil fires. A 100-ton towing winch at the stern can pull vessels weighing 100,000 tons.
The Navy will also invest approximately NT$13.2 billion to construct a larger submarine rescue vessel between 2027 and 2033, according to Liberty Times. The ship is expected to measure about 112.86 meters in length, 20.5 meters in width, and have a draft of around 5.2 meters.
It will be equipped to carry submarine rescue systems and conduct related operations.
With these procurements, the Navy will expand its overall maritime rescue capacity and strengthen underwater rescue support for its submarine force.
