The Taiwanese Coast Guard has taken delivery of the 1,000-ton Penghu (CG 1007) patrol cutter from CSBC Corp.’s Keelung shipyard.
The Penghu is the fifth of six vessels in its class being built under a 42.6-billion New Taiwan dollar ($1.3 billion) shipbuilding initiative launched in 2018 to deliver 141 new coast guard vessels by 2028.
According to the Taipei Times, citing the Coast Guard Administration, the Penghu is equipped with four high-pressure water cannons, can reach a top speed of 24 knots (44 kilometers/28 miles per hour), and has a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometers/6,905 miles).
The class’ lead vessel, the Changhua (CG 1001), entered service in 2022. Since then, Taiwan has accepted one cutter from the class per year, per USNI News. The sixth and final vessel will be named the Keelung.
Boosting Maritime Security
After entering service, the Penghu will be assigned to the Southern Sector Flotilla, where it will conduct maritime patrols, search-and-rescue missions, and responses to major incidents at sea.
The coast guard is also awaiting six 5,000-ton high-latitude ocean patrol vessels, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling announced during the Penghu’s handover ceremony.
The construction of three vessels has already been transferred from Kaohsiung to Keelung, Taiwan News quoted Kuan as saying.
These platforms are intended to strengthen Taiwan’s maritime defense amid China’s deployment of military aircraft, warships and coast guard vessels as part of Beijing’s efforts to assert its claim over the self-governed island.
