BRP Melchora Aquino

BRP Melchora Aquino in 2026.
History
Philippines
NameBRP Melchora Aquino
NamesakeMelchora Aquino de Ramos
OrderedFebruary 7, 2020[1]
BuilderMitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.[2]
Cost14.55 billion yen for two units[3]
LaunchedNovember 18, 2021
AcquiredMay 22, 2022
CommissionedJune 12, 2022
Identification
Badge
General characteristics
Length96.6 m (316 ft 11 in)[5]
Beam11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)[1]
Draft4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)[1]
Propulsion2 × diesel engines, with total output of 13,200 kW (17,700 shp)[6]
Speed24 knots (44 km/h) maximum sustained[2]
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[2]
Endurancemore than 15 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × RHIB
Complement67 officers and sailors max
ArmamentTo be determined
Aircraft carried1 × Airbus H145 helicopter[7]
Aviation facilitiesHangar and flight deck for 1 × Airbus H145 helicopter

BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) is the second ship of the Teresa Magbanua class of patrol vessels operated by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The service officially classifies her as a multi-role response vessel (MRRV). At almost 97 meters long, she is one of the largest, and most modern vessels of the PCG.

She was named after Melchora Aquino, a Filipino revolutionary during the Spanish colonial period.[4]

Construction and design

The vessel was constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in Shimonoseki, Japan based on the Kunigami-class patrol vessels. The contract was under the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2" project of the Department of Transportation in 2016.[8] The deal was worth 14.55 billion yen for two units from a JICA STEP Loan of 16.455 billion yen[9] and was signed on February 7, 2020.[1]

The vessel has a length of 96.6 meters (316 ft 11 in), a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph), and has a complement of 67 officers and crew members. She is powered by two 6,600-kilowatt (8,900 hp) diesel engines.[1] She has a helideck, and a hangar that can accommodate the H145T2 helicopter of the PCG. She also has a hyperbaric chamber for those who have diving sickness and a survivor room that can accommodate those who will be rescued.[1]

The ship was launched on the November 18, 2021, which was held by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard attended the short ceremony virtually.[10] She sailed from Japan to the Philippines on May 27, 2022 in a ceremony attended by Admiral George Ursabia, Undersecretary for Maritime of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Admiral Artemio Abu, Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard alongside Philippine Embassy representatives.[11]

History

President Rodrigo Duterte giving a speech during BRP Melchora Aquino's commissioning

The ship was officially accepted into service less than two weeks after arriving in the Philippines, arriving on June 1, 2022.[12] On June 12, 2022, the Philippine Coast Guard held the commissioning ceremony at the South Harbor.[4]

Melchora Aquino along with BRP Malapascua escorted the civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea between 26 May to 30 May 2025.[13]

In January 2026, the Melchora Aquino was deployed in SAR operations during the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3.

In June 2026, the Melchora Aquino was involved in a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) exercise with the US Coast Guard.[14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Xavier Vavasseur (2020-02-19). "MHI to build 2 Multi-Role Response Vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard". Naval News.
  2. 1 2 3 "PCG's first approximately 97-meter multi-role response vessel launches in Japan shipyard". Philippine Coast Guard. 2021-07-26. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  3. ↑ "PCG to step up maritime patrol with new vessels from Japan". Japan International Cooperation Agency. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  4. 1 2 3 "PCG commissions BRP Melchora Aquino". Inquirer.net. June 13, 2022. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Philippine Coast Guard Gets Boost with Two New Patrol Vessels". Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  6. ↑ "Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV)". Archived from the original on 2022-02-20. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  7. ↑ https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/non-naval-security/vessel-review-teresa-magbanua-new-class-of-97m-multi-role-vessels-for-philippine-coast-guard
  8. ↑ "Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Signs Contract for Two Multi-Role Response Vessels for the Philippines -- Construction and Deliveries to be Completed in 2022 --". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group. March 6, 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ "Signing of Japanese ODA Loan Agreement with the Republic of the Philippines: Further strengthening the maritime safety capability of the Philippine Coast Guard | Press Releases | News & Features | JICA". www.jica.go.jp. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Ship for PH Coast Guard launched in Japan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "BRP Mechora Aquino's Maiden Voyage From Japan to Manila | Philippine Embassy – Tokyo, Japan". tokyo.philembassy.net. Archived from the original on 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  12. ↑ Sadongdong, Martin (2022-06-01). "PCG welcomes BRP Melchora Aquino in Manila". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2026-06-24. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  13. ↑ Joviland, Rita (26 May 2025). "PCG sends 2 vessels to escort Atin Ito civilian mission to West PH Sea". GMA News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Punongbayan, Michael. "Philippines, US ships hold 6-day exercise in West Philippine Sea". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-21. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  15. ↑ Daguno-Bersamina, Kristine. "PH, US forces complete 4th maritime drill in West Philippine Sea for 2026". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-21. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.