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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Largest PCG ship to transport  medical goods, frontliners

Largest PCG ship to transport  medical goods, frontliners

Published Apr 7, 2020 12:00 am

By Betheena Unite

After being diverted to the Middle East in December 2019, the largest ship of the Philippine Coast Guard finally arrived in the Philippines Tuesday to help the country in handling COVID-19 cases as a “transport ship.”

(PCG / MANILA BULLETIN) (PCG / MANILA BULLETIN)

Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gabriela Silang shall be utilized as a transport ship for medical supplies, personal protective equipment, medicines, as well as health workers and other frontliners to regional hospitals across the country, said Admiral Joel Garcia, Coast Guard commandant. The Coast Guard is also willing to designate the French-made offshore patrol vessel as a quarantine ship, when the need arises, Garcia said.

BRP Gabriela Silang was supposed to arrive in the country last year but it was ordered to divert its voyage to help in the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers amid the then growing tensions in the Middle East. It can ferry approximately 500 people at one time and is more than capable to perform beyond its contractual specification of 20 knots of speed. It has a range of 8000 nautical miles at 15 knots and an endurance of up to five weeks of operation. It has an excellent sea keeping ability and maneuverability on top of the great comfort it offers for people onboard.

Meantime, two vessels of the 2GO Group Inc. -- MV St. John Paul II and MV St. Anthony de Padua-- are now being converted into quarantine facilities that will accommodate repatriated Filipino seafarers.

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