TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Dawu-class rescue ship prototype will be commissioned soon.
The new ship had its keel laid in March 2022 and was handed to the Navy in October after a delay of nearly a year, Liberty Times reported. It is undergoing pre-commissioning training and preparations.
Taiwan Shipbuilding Corporation was awarded the contract to construct the prototype and five following vessels. They are capable of towing, rescue operations, and underwater missions up to a depth of 500 meters.
The Dawu has a full-load displacement of approximately 3,250 tons and measures 87 meters in length and 15.5 meters in width. It has a maximum speed of about 33.3 kilometers per hour when fully loaded.
As an auxiliary vessel, the Dawu is armed with only a single T75 20mm cannon on the bow for defense. It is equipped with two deck towing winches, capable of towing vessels weighing over 10,000 tons. The ship also features four firefighting water cannons mounted above the bridge.