PCG eyeing around 5 more units of patrol vessels from Japan

Coast guard officials of the Philippines and Japan after boarding BRP Teresa Magbanua, including Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan and Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Shohei Ishii. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard is planning to acquire from Japan five additional units of Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessels, which is the largest class of ship in its fleet to date.

“We will purchase additional ships,” PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said in Filipino during a chance interview after inspecting BRP Teresa Magbanua with Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Shohei Ishii.

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“As of now we are talking about buying around five ships or more than that,” Gavan also said, without further elaborating.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo later clarified that Gavan is referring to the purchase of 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRV).

Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan and Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Shohei Ishii. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

To date, the PCG has two 97-meter MRRVs also manufactured by Japan: BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702).

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This MRRV class based on Japan’s Kunigami-class design has a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots and an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles, according to the PCG.

PCG said this type of ship is capable of conducting sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise.