INDONESIA’S PT PAL reaffirmed its position as a strategic partner for the international defence industry by launching the third Landing Platform Dock (LPD) vessel for the Philippine Navy (PN). The new vessel is the first of two ordered in 2022 following the PN’s induction of its first pair of Tarlac-class LPDs BRP Tarlac and BRP Davao del Sur.
The launch ceremony was held at PT PAL Indonesia’s Orca Graving Dock in attendance of the company’s President Director Kaharuddin Djenod, PN Flag Officer in Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rommel Roldan, and high-ranking defence officials from both countries.
According to PT PAL, construction of the hull was completed in just six months through the implementation of Industrial Maritime 4.0 (IM4), which integrates digital production processes, increased efficiency, and comprehensive quality control. The application of this technology accelerated the construction process without compromising the quality standards required by international customers.
A company statement stated that it is the “latest generation of landing transport ships designed to support a wide spectrum of operations, from amphibious operations, personnel and logistics transportation, maritime security, to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.” Following its launch, the ship will undergo outfitting, port acceptance trials, and sea acceptance trials before being handed over to the Philippine Navy later this year.
Djenod stated that the launch is not just a project milestone, but a symbol of the strong strategic partnership between Indonesia and the Philippines in strengthening the capabilities of industrial conservation areas. “Tonight, this ship took to the skies for the first time, marking the launch of the first of two ships we are building for the Philippine Navy. We are committed to maintaining customer trust by delivering high-quality products. Despite global geopolitical challenges that impacted the supply chain and caused some schedule adjustments, PT PAL was able to maintain optimal internal performance, minimising the impact on project completion.”
The statement continued, “The Philippine Navy’s trust in PT PAL Indonesia is a continuation of a cooperative relationship that has existed for more than a decade. Previously, PT PAL successfully built two Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs), several Landing Craft Utility (LCUs), and completed the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) project for the BRP Tarlac with a “Very Satisfactory” rating. This track record reinforces the desire for cooperation between the two parties to support the modernisation of the Philippine Navy’s fleet.
VAdm Ezpeleta expressed his appreciation for PT PAL’s professionalism in meeting the needs of the Philippine Navy’s fleet. “This vessel will significantly enhance our ability to transport personnel, equipment, and logistics throughout the Philippine archipelago. Furthermore, this vessel will provide greater connectivity in supporting amphibious operations, maritime security operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions,” he said. “This important milestone would not have been possible without the support of our partner, PT PAL Indonesia, which has demonstrated its expertise and strong commitment to quality in realising this project. On behalf of the entire Philippine Navy, I express my appreciation and gratitude to the management and all personnel of PT PAL Indonesia.”
Earlier this month, PT PAL received a “very satisfactory” rating from the Philippine Navy (PN) for PT PAL’s completed Docking, Drydocking, Operational Readiness, and Repair (DDORR) programme for the BRP Tarlac. It was built by PT PAL and has served since 2016, recently completing its maintenance and repair programme at PT PAL’s Surabaya shipyard facility in mid-2025. According to the company, the rating was given based on a post-project evaluation involving various user units and end-users of the ship. From the evaluation, PT PAL received a score of 3.90 out of a scale of 4.00, which falls into the “Very Satisfactory” category.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:PT PAL)
