The delivery of vessels from Japan intended to help the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conduct maritime law enforcement activities more effectively will start from September 2016 and end late 2018, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The DOTC delegation headed by Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya attended the keel laying and safety prayer ceremonies held February 6 for the first of 10 new multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) for the PCG held in Yokohama, Japan.
Keel laying, the first milestone in vessel construction, marks the time that steel cutting works are substantially completed and parts are ready for assembly. The Anzen-kigan-sai, a traditional Japanese Shinto ceremony, was held to pray for the safe construction of the MRRVs, and was followed by a ceremonial welding of the vessel.
“It is high time that the PCG acquires these much-needed MRRVs to support the men and women of the organization in fulfilling their sworn duties,” Abaya said in his speech at the event.
“Through this meaningful ceremony, we appreciate the start of construction of the first vessel, and also highlight the full implementation of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (MSCIP) after many years of hard work and close cooperation with Japan,” he added.
The first vessel will arrive in the Philippines in September, followed by the arrival of more vessels quarterly beginning December 2016, until the final MRRV arrives in August 2018.
The 40-meter-long MRRVs are part of the MSCIP, which aims to strengthen the coastal patrol capabilities of the PCG within Philippine waters.
Abaya also spoke of sustaining the country’s partnership with Japan in strengthening maritime capabilities, saying that “this capacity-building project demonstrates the goodwill, long-standing friendship, and mutual cooperation with Japan.”
“It is our wish that we will continue to work towards more strategic partnerships, allowing our nations to achieve our respective and shared goals,” Abaya noted.
