Chilean shipbuilder ASMAR has laid the keel of a new landing platform dock (LPD) slated for the Chilean Navy.
The future Rapa Nui is the second of a planned class of four LPDs that ASMAR is building for the Chilean Navy. Class lead ship Magallanes was launched earlier this year.
Design work on the Magallanes-class ships was undertaken by Canadian naval architecture firm Vard Marine. The vessels will be capable of operating in Antarctica and can be employed for secondary missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response, logistical support, and search and rescue.
Upon completion, the future Rapa Nui will have a length of 110 metres, a beam of 21.8 metres, a displacement of 4,000 tons, and space for landing craft, small boats and wheeled vehicles. Aviation facilities will be available for use by helicopters.
The LPD will have a crew complement of 95 and will also be able to house up to 250 embarked troops or other personnel. Her armament will consist of 20mm autocannon and 12.7mm machine guns fitted on remote weapon stations.
The Magallanes-class LPDs are being built for a total cost of approximately US$410 million.
