Following the conduct of port/sea tests and actual ship inspection at the contractor's facility in Ulsan, South Korea, on 25 to 29 January 2021, Director Leodegario Dela Paz, Head of the Joint DND-PN Inspection Team and Chief of the DND Defense Procurement Service, found the contractor, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), to be in compliance with all of its contractual deliverables and obligations.

PN inspectors, led by Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos, Chairman of the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee of the Frigate, have declared FF151 to be constructed in line with approved technical specifications for technical matters.

More significantly, from September 25, 2020, to December 18, 2020, Rear Admiral Carlos announced that FF151 had performed remarkably well in harbor and sea tests.

“Moreover, we are happy to report that the HHI has provided additional equipment and sustainment items, more training activities, and ship design improvements, which are over and above its contractual obligations. HHIs goodwill gesture has an estimated value of USD 7.4 Million,” stated Rear Admiral Carlos.

According to the agreed timeline, FF151 is set to sail on 5 February 2021 from Ulsan, Korea, and is expected to arrive on 10 February 2021 in Subic, Philippines. FF151 shall be delivered one month in advance of the contractual delivery date of March 6, 2021. The PN will conduct the formal commissioning ceremony of FF151.v after the mandatory COVID-19 RT-PCR tests and quarantine of the crew.

Maritime Business World