The Ocean Affairs Council’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Fleet Branch held a joint ceremony at CSBC Corporation, Taiwan, for the commissioning of the fourth 4,000-ton patrol vessel CG602 Taipei and the naming and launching of the first high-latitude ocean-
going patrol vessel SIRAYA. The ceremony was personally presided over by President Lai Ching-te, joined by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen
Chi-mai, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod, CSBC Chairman Chen Cheng-hung, legislators Li Po-yi, Chiu Yi-ying, Hsu Chih-chieh, Lai Ruey-lung, Navy Commander Tang Hua, Deputy Defense Minister Huang Yu-min, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin, Ms. Wan Shu-juan—the promoter of the Siraya name movement—as well as industry representatives and local leaders,
marking another major milestone in Taiwan’s Indigenous Shipbuilding Program.
The Taipei, the final 4,000-ton vessel built under the “Coast Guard Vessel Construction Mid-Term Development Program,” measures
126.3 meters in length and 16.5 meters in width. It has a range of 10,000 nautical miles and can withstand winds up to Beaufort scale 10. Equipped with three high-pressure water cannons (range up to 120 meters) for maritime
dispersal operations, a 20mm remote-controlled cannon for law enforcement, and a rocket system for defense readiness, the vessel is a key asset in safeguarding Taiwan’s waters. It also features advanced medical facilities equivalent to a field hospital and telemedicine
capability to provide real-time emergency care at sea.
The newly named SIRAYA, the first vessel under the “Ocean-going Patrol Vessel Development Program,” is a high-latitude patrol ship of about 5,000 tons, with a cruising range of 15,000 nautical miles (27,780 km). Equipped for cold-weather navigation between 55°N and 55°S, it can operate in extreme maritime environments. The ship can be reconfigured for large-scale evacuation or rescue missions to
accommodate more personnel. Its “Axe Bow” design cuts through waves rather than riding over them, minimizing pounding and
ensuring smoother sailing in rough seas.
After its handover, Taipei embarked on its first mission on September 11—a 14-day goodwill and training voyage to Palau, about 1,300 nautical miles away. The crew conducted navigation drills, emergency response, search and rescue, and damage control exercises to test system integration and operational readiness. During its return voyage, the ship encountered Typhoon Koinu and successfully executed storm avoidance maneuvers, demonstrating its excellent seaworthiness. Following mission verification, the Taipei met all performance
standards and was formally commissioned into active service today.
President Lai emphasized that the commissioning of the Taipei and the launch of SIRAYA mark a key milestone in Taiwan’s shipbuilding program and reaffirm the nation’s determination to defend its maritime domain. Facing increasing gray-zone coercion from China,
Taiwan continues to strengthen its defense, deepen international cooperation, and safeguard regional peace while advancing legislative reforms to enhance undersea cable protection.