PH Coast Guard gets first delivery of French-built patrol boats

BRP Boracay 2401 (Photo from DOTr)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday received its first French-built fast-patrol boat, seen to improve its capability in maritime safety and security.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the first of the four brand new 24-meter patrol boats (FPB 72 MKII) arrived at Alava Pier in Subic Bay. The boats have a speed of 28 nautical miles per hour and can accommodate 12 crew and 16 passengers.

“The acquisition of the patrol boats from France stemmed from the agreement entered by the DOTr and OCEA – a pioneer and renowned shipbuilder in France on 09 September 2014,” the DOTr said.

The first boat is named BRP Boracay (2401), and will be first of the four Boracay-class patrol vessels of the PCG. It is scheduled to be commissioned on August 23 at the headquarters of PCG in Manila.

The second and third of the patrol boats are expected to arrive in September and November while the fourth boat is expected in January 2019.

The PCG also acquired one 82-meter offshore patrol vessel from France aside from the patrol boats, amounting to P5.142 billion overall.

The procurement of the vessels includes training, provision of spare parts and technical assistance, the DOTr said.  /kga