The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) is working towards the transfer of two recently decommissioned Haeuri-class patrol vessels with pennant numbers 302 and 303 to Ecuador. The two patrol vessels are currently being refitted and painted in Ecuadorian colours at unspecified small and medium shipyards ahead of the planned transfer to Ecuador. Korea Coast Guard are scheduled to provide Ecuador with two patrol ships in May for their guard activities around the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador is having trouble protecting its waters against foreign fishing vessels, most of which are from China.
The Haeuri-class-class patrol vessel is a class of Medium Sized Patrol Vessel of the Republic of Korea Navy. The vessels have a length of 53.7 m, a beam of 7.4 m, and a draught of 2.5 m and built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). They entered service in December 1990 and December 1991 respectively and were decommissioned in October 2019 and January 2020. Both patrol vessels ended their service with the KCG’s Jeju command. Korea Coast Guard operates 4 classes of heavy vessels (over 1000 tons), 3 classes of medium vessels (over 250 tons), and 3 classes of light vessels.
