Korea's Navy will build a dedicated training ship by 2020 to help sailors become accustomed to various weapons systems, sensors and tactics before they are sent to front-line warships, the state defense procurement agency said Tuesday.

On June 28, Defense Acquisition Program Administration placed a 260 billion-won ($228 million) order with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. on behalf of the Navy. The country's top shipbuilder plans to deliver the 4,500-ton training vessel by 2020.

"The training ship will have a variety of equipment that can detect submarines and help with navigation. A number of naval guns will also be installed on the ship," a DAPA spokesman said. "The ship has the capacity to accommodate a crew of 100 in addition to 300 trainees."

The Navy has borrowed a destroyer whenever there were demands for training due to budget problems. The upcoming ship will also be used as a salvage ship in the event of disasters at sea. (Yonhap)