Former Republic of Korea Navy corvette ROKS Iksan has gotten underway from the Jinhae Naval Base, in South Korea, to start her journey to her now home at the Cartagena naval base in Colombia.
Prior to the October 3 departure from South Korea, former ROKS Iksan was transferred to the Colombian Navy and renamed ARC ship Almirante Tono. The ship was decommissioned by the ROK Navy in 2018 after over 30 years of service.
Almirante Tono is the second ship South Korea has transferred to Colombia, after transferring the Donghae-class corvette ROKS Anyang (PCC-755) to the South American navy in 2014. Colombia renamed the ship to CM-55 ARC Nariño.
ARC Almirante Tono is underway with 61 crew who will cover 10,581 nautical miles in 51 days before reaching Cartagena in December.
South Korea built a total of 24 Pohang-class corvettes in the 1980s. Meanwhile they are in service with the navies of Egypt, Vietnam, the Philippines and Peru. Over 10 units are also still in service with the ROK Navy.
