THE TRANSPORTATION department announced on Monday that the two 94-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) it acquired for the Philippine Coast Guard will start arriving in Manila by March next year.
“Through the accelerated construction of the Japanese shipbuilder, the first 94-meter MRRV is expected to arrive in Manila by March 2022, while the second vessel will arrive two months later or by May 2022,” the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said in a statement.
It said one of the vessels was launched at the Shimonoseki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan on Monday.
“The two MRRVs will be the largest vessels of the PCG’s fleet, once delivered. These MRRV’s modeled after the Japan Coast Guard Kunigami-class vessels are expected to improve the PCG’s maritime security and maritime safety capabilities,” the department added.
The vessels measure about 94 meters. They have a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots, and an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles, the DoTr said.
“The ships are capable of conducting sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise,” the department noted.
The vessels were acquired under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase II, a Japan-assisted project funded by an official development assistance loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency amounting to approximately JPY16.5 billion. — Arjay L. Balinbin