PSS Kedam

History
Palau
Name: PSS Kedam
Namesake: Great Frigate Bird of Palau
Builder: Kegoya Dock, Kure, Japan
Laid down: 22 June 2017
Launched: 13 September 2017
Christened: 18 September 2017
Commissioned: 13 February 2018
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Displacement: 257 t
Length: 40 m (131 ft)
Propulsion: Diesel engine output: 2 × 1,790 shp (1,330 kW)
Speed: Maximum @ 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range: 300 nautical miles (600 km)
Endurance: 10 days
Boats & landing
craft carried:
1 × RHIB work boat
Complement: 21

PSS Kedam is a 40 metres (130 ft) patrol boat, donated by the Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation to Palau, to help it patrol its Exclusive Economic Zone.[1][2]

The vessel arrived on 22 December 2017, to join the slightly smaller 31.5 metres (103 ft) Remeliik, donated by Australia.[1] The vessel cost $30 million USD. The donors have also constructed a berth to moor and maintain the vessel, and committed to cover the vessel's fuel and maintenance costs until 2017.[3]

Fleet-mate Remeliik was donated by Australia, in 1996, and is scheduled to be replaced by 39.5 metres (130 ft) Guardian-class patrol boat, in 2019.[4]

Kedam was commissioned, on 13 February 2018.[5] Dignitaries attending included President Thomas Remengesau Jr., Vice President and Minister of Justice Raynold Oilouch and Mitsuyuki Unno Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation.

Kedam is staffed by a crew of 15.[3] She is named after the "Great Frigate Bird of Palau".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ongerung Kambes Kesolei, Tia Belau (2017-12-22). "Palau Gets New Patrol Boat". Pacific Note. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  2. Bernadette H. Carreon (2016-03-03). "Palau's maritime surveillance gets boost with new patrol boat". Post Guam. Koror, Palau. Retrieved 2018-04-22. Palau currently has a lone patrol boat, PSS H.I Remeliik, that is about 31.5 meters long. The Remeliik was donated by the Australian government in 1996. The vessel is scheduled to get an upgrade funded by the Australian government by 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Palau's marine surveillance boosted with new patrol boat". Baird Maritime. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-04-22. The Nippon Foundation will provide financial support to cover fuel and maintenance cost for the vessel until the end of Japanese fiscal year 2027, and for the boat until the end of Japanese fiscal year 2026.
  4. "Operation Kaukledm". 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  5. Bernadette H. Carreon (2018-02-14). "New Japan Patrol Boat boosts Palau fight against IUU". Pacific Note. Koror, Palau. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
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