HD HHI and SIMA Perú have launched BAP Chimbote, the second landing support ship (BALOG) built for the Peruvian Navy, just one week after the launch of the lead vessel, BAP Talara.
On Tuesday, August 18, approximately one week after the launch of the first landing support ship / logistics support ship (Buque de Apoyo Logístico – BALOG) for the Peruvian Navy, B.A.P. Talara, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) successfully launched the second vessel in the class, B.A.P. Chimbote, in collaboration with Peru’s state-owned shipyard, SIMA Perú (Servicio Industrial de la Marina). B.A.P. Chimbote, launched this time, is actually the first of the two vessels to be built, which is why it carries pennant number “159”, while B.A.P. Talara, the second vessel, carries pennant number “160”.
B.A.P. Chimbote and B.A.P. Talara are multi-purpose landing support ships designed to perform a wide range of missions, including the transport of personnel and cargo, logistics support, and disaster relief and emergency response operations. Both vessels are named after major Peruvian port cities.
The ceremony was presided over by Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Rafael Belaunde Llosa, and attended by senior officials and representatives from both countries, including Admiral Federico Javier Bravo de Rueda Delgado, Commander General of the Peruvian Navy; H.E. Choi Jong-uk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Peru; and Won-ho Joo, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
This launch of B.A.P. Chimbote represents a significant achievement made possible by the combined efforts of Team Korea and close public-private cooperation. We will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of K-Naval solutions and diversify our global export markets.
Won-ho Joo, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
The launch follows the agreement signed on April 16, 2024 between HD HHI and SIMA Perú for the local construction of four naval vessels, three weeks after HD HHI was selected as the project’s preferred bidder on March 27, 2024. Valued at USD 463 million, the contract covers one 3,400-ton frigate, one 2,200-ton offshore patrol vessel (OPV), and two 1,500-ton Landing Craft Units (LCUs).
This is the largest order in volume for a Korean shipbuilder exporting to the Latin American defense industry. HHI is responsible for the vessels’ design, equipment and material package, and technical support, while construction is undertaken by SIMA. SIMA, with the support of HHI, will construct and deliver the four vessels to the Peruvian Navy by 2029.
Vessel Specifications & Capabilities
The vessel, based on HHI’s HDL-1400 LCU solution, has a full-load displacement of approximately 1,646 tons and measures 58.9 meters in length with a 13.2-meter beam. It has a maximum speed of 10 knots. Its payload capacity includes military vehicles, up to 21 shipping containers, 211 m³ of freshwater, and 223 m³ of ship fuel. The vessel also features a rear aviation deck capable of supporting helicopter take-off and landing operations.
Beyond military logistical support, the vessel is designed to serve as a strategic asset during national emergencies, including disaster response and humanitarian operations. It will be capable of transporting heavy rescue equipment, emergency supplies, fuel, and potable water to isolated coastal areas, providing critical logistical support where conventional infrastructure may be unavailable or damaged.
Strategic Impact
HHI’s naval shipbuilding program in Peru represents a new export model for K-Naval solutions, shifting from the conventional approach of building vessels in Korea and delivering completed ships overseas toward local joint construction based on technology cooperation. Under this model, HHI provides vessel design and technical support, while SIMA utilizes its local shipbuilding facilities to participate in block fabrication and assembly, outfitting, testing and sea trials.
Support from the Korean government and close public-private cooperation have played a key role in advancing the project. Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) have supported HHI’s naval export efforts by facilitating defense cooperation with the Peruvian government. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Peru and KOTRA have also provided support through close communication with Peruvian authorities and their extensive local networks.
This transfer of ship design, modular manufacturing, and quality control technology significantly elevates Peru’s domestic shipbuilding industry. As an increasing number of countries seek to strengthen their domestic shipbuilding capabilities through local construction, this model is expected to create further opportunities for HHI in the global naval shipbuilding market.
This successful launch strengthens HD HHI’s foothold in South America, paving the way for future naval defense partnerships in the region (including next-generation submarine joint development programs). Building on the trust established with the Peruvian government through its surface vessel joint construction program, HHI is also carrying out the basic design of the Peruvian Navy’s next-generation submarine. The company plans to proceed directly to construction of the first submarine following completion of the basic design, further expanding its strategic partnership with Peru.
Furthermore, according to the Press Release released by HD HHI in March 2024, the Peruvian Navy plans to make further orders for five frigates, four OPVs, and two landing ships. HD HHI will be partnering with the Peruvian Navy on a strategic level to improve its force for the upcoming fifteen years. It is anticipated that this will result in further ship orders.
Facts Only
* HD HHI and SIMA Perú launched BAP Chimbote, the second BALOG, one week after BAP Talara.
* BAP Chimbote carries pennant number 159; BAP Talara carries pennant number 160.
* BAP Chimbote and BAP Talara are multi-purpose landing support ships.
* The launch ceremony included Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori and the Minister of Defense Rafael Belaunde Llosa.
* The launch followed an agreement on April 16, 2024, for four naval vessels.
* The contract covers one 3,400-ton frigate, one 2,200-ton OPV, and two 1,500-ton LCUs.
* HD HHI is responsible for design, equipment, material package, and technical support; SIMA undertakes construction.
* The four vessels are to be delivered by SIMA to the Peruvian Navy by 2029.
* BAP Chimbote has a full-load displacement of approximately 1,646 tons, a length of 58.9 meters, and a maximum speed of 10 knots.
* Payload capacity includes military vehicles, up to 21 shipping containers, 211 m³ of freshwater, and 223 m³ of ship fuel.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The progression from contract signing to vessel launch illustrates a specific model for technological transfer in defense procurement: localized joint construction utilizing international design expertise. The shift is away from exporting finished goods toward embedding the capability within the recipient nation's industrial base via block fabrication and assembly by SIMA, supported by HD HHI’s technical input. This strategy repositions shipbuilding as an opportunity for capacity building rather than pure sales. The strategic impact suggests a pathway where technological cooperation can translate into tangible, long-term defense partnerships, evidenced by the planned progression to submarine development, which signals a deeper integration of expertise beyond surface vessels. The reliance on public-private cooperation and government support from external bodies like the Korean Ministry of National Defense underscores how international engagement functions as a catalyst for strengthening domestic industrial capabilities in the receiving nation. The pattern suggests that the mechanism of export moves toward technology transfer embedded within manufacturing, which seeks to establish enduring influence rather than transactional sales.
Bridge Questions:
What are the long-term implications for HD HHI's market positioning if this localized construction model becomes a preferred framework for future defense contracts? How does the planned transition to submarine development affect the perceived value of surface vessel cooperation versus platform integration? What mechanisms exist to ensure that the benefits derived from technology transfer translate into sustained, independent industrial growth within Peru beyond the initial contract timeline?
Sentinel — Human
This text reads as grounded journalistic reporting that effectively weaves together specific logistical achievements with broader geopolitical and industrial strategy, suggesting human authorship.