New Patrol Vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard

After the unveiling of the first of two 97-meter multi-role response boats (MMRVs) at the Shimonoseki shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. in Japan, the Philippines aims to significantly increase its maritime patrol efforts. 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) expects that the vessels it recently acquired to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will boost the PCG’s maritime security and marine safety capabilities, especially in the South China Sea, where the PCG has been questioned. 

The new vessel measures 96.6 meters long and can reach a maximum speed of 24 knots. At cruising speed, the vessel’s range is up to 4,000 nautical miles. This ship has secure communication systems for EEZ surveillance, a helideck and hangar for helicopter operations, an underwater remotely operated vehicle for searching and surveying the ocean floor, high-speed rubber boats and other equipment essential for monitoring the maritime domain and enforcing maritime law. 

Under a $149.5 billion loan arrangement, which corresponds to the second phase of a collaboration agreement inked between the Philippines and Japan in October 2016, the building of the boats is being financed by the Japanese government. 

Once the PCG’s two Kunigami-class MRRVs have been delivered, they will be the largest boats in the PCG’s fleet.