The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has welcomed the arrival of its largest acquisition, the 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs)-9701, saying it is a big boost in the efforts to secure the country's territorial waters.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ligtas na pagdating ng ating bagong pinakamalaking Coast Guard ship at patuloy ang pasasalamat sa ating Pangulong Duterte at ang kalihim ng transportasyon na si Arthur Tugade (We are thankful for the arrival of the largest Coast Guard ship and we also thank President Durterte and Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade),” PCG Officer-In-Charge Vice Admiral Eduardo D Fabricante said.
Fabricante, along with partner agencies, officers, and personnel, led the welcoming ceremony for the MRRV-9701 in Port Area, Manila, on Saturday, Feb. 26.
The ship is under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (MSCIP) Phase II, which is a Japanese-assisted project funded by an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“The MRRVs has a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots; an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles; and are capable of conducting sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions,” PCG said.
It added that these vessels — which are modeled after the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Kunigami-class vessels — will help the agency’s maritime security conduct and will be deployed to support the ongoing operations of the PCG Task Force Pagsasanay.