MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Navy completes incorporation of four refurbished frigates

Frigate “Almirante Riveros”.

Chile's Minister of Defence officially received Wednesday morning in Valparaiso the former refurbished Dutch frigate now under the name of “Almirante Riveros”. With this incorporation the Chilean navy has completed its Puente II project to replace and renew four of its surface fleet units.

The project also included the acquisition of three other Dutch frigates, "Blanco Encalada", "Almirante Latorre" and "Capitán Prat". "Almirante Riveros" left Holland over a month ago with calls in Lisbon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia. The ceremony was held on the deck of the incorporated frigate and headed by Defence minister Jose Goñi Carrasco together with the Commander of the Chilean Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina Diaz; Commander of the Royal Dutch Navy Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Kelder; chairmen of the Senate and Deputies Defence Committees, other members of Congress, diplomats and city officials. Defence minister Goñi Carrasco underlined that the new frigate consolidates Chile's naval renovation and operational capabilities, "which have the strong support from the community emphasizing integration with regional navies and participation in international humanitarian operations". The new frigate under Captain Ronald McIntyre Astorga can make 30 knots, is fueled with a mix of gas and diesel and is equipped with surface to surface Harpoon missiles and air missiles Sea Sparrow. The Chilean Navy also purchased frigates from the Royal Navy, the first of which former HMS Sheffield is now "Admiral Williams" and is waiting for the delivery of three others, Cochrane, Lynch and Condell. Once the eight frigates are fully incorporated Chile will have the most modern surface fleet on the Pacific coast of South America including support from an oil tanker and a tug. Fueled with booming copper prices the Chilean Navy has also purchased two brand new diesel Scorpion submarines jointly built by France and Spain.