Too few details about the topic of the article: The Ship.
The hatch can be opened to reveal a dock for operations.
Ordinarily AAV's launch from the dock, but it sounds like Ponce is being equipped with zodiacs (and probably some stuff they aren't telling us about).
Flight deck operations take place on the rear deck.
The article is incorrect. Ponce was commissioned in 1971, the last vessel of her class.