Jinhae: A Navy training ship carrying cadets embarked on a cruise training mission to nine countries Friday in a program designed to build their capacity as junior officers, officials said. The mission, involving some 400 personnel, including 138 graduating cadets of the Naval Academy, set sail from a naval port in Jinhae, some 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, aboard the 4,500-ton ROKS Hansando (ATH-81).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the vessel is scheduled to make port calls at 10 ports in nine countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Indonesia. The 105-day mission is aimed at helping the cadets build the capabilities required as junior officers, such as operational and tactical exercises and integrated combat drills.
The cruise training has been held annually since it was first launched in 1954.