17 Juni 2022
BRP Teresa Magbanua 9701 and BRP Melchora Aquino 9702 (photo : PCG)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is looking to acquire more 97-meter multirole response vessels (MRRV), similar to its newest vessels -- BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino.
Vice Adm. Eduardo Fabricante, PCG Deputy Commandant for Operations made this remark in a courtesy call with executives from the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Shimonoseki Shipyard, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota) on Tuesday.
“During the meeting, Fabricante conveyed the possibility of procuring additional units of the 97-meter MRRVs modeled after the Japan Coast Guard’s Kunigami-class vessels,” the PCG said in a Facebook post.
Fabricante also shared the participation of BRP Teresa Magbanua in the Regional Maritime Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2022 in Makassar, Indonesia from May 22 to 29 -- its first-ever mission since it was commissioned.
Both vessels, it said, will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise.
“This is to increase the endurance and patrol capabilities of the PCG as the said capital ships can stay up to 14 days at sea,” it said.
During the meeting, Toyota Project General Manager Yasunori Yamaguchi requested reports from the PCG on the operational status and condition of lighthouses for their ‘Aids to Navigation Rehabilitation Project.’
“[Japanese executives] also discussed the expansion of the Vessel Traffic Management Service nationwide,” it said.
(PNA)