Philippines interested in acquiring 2 more 84-m Offshore Patrol Vessel from France

 

BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) of the Philippine Coast Guard. Photo c/o OCEA.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has announced its intentions to acquire two (2) additional 84-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPV) from French shipbuilder OCEA.

The announcement was made at an online press briefing by the PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia on 03 March 2021.

The acquisition of additional OPVs would allow the PCG to expand its operations in its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which includes conducting maritime security patrols, search and rescue, and disaster relief operations.

Currently, the PCG already has one 84-meter OPV, the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) which is based on OCEA’s OPV-270 design, and was delivered to the PCG in 2020 and costs around PHP5.6 billion (US$108 million).

The PCG admits that 1 large OPV is not enough to patrol the country’s vast EEZ and territorial waters, so additional vessels would be beneficial for the service. Currently the BRP Gabriela Silang is being used for COVID-19 related operations.

It features an all-aluminium hull construction, and is considered the largest aluminium-hull vessel in the world with a length of 84 meters.

It has a maximum speed of more than 20 knots, a range of 8,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, and an endurance of up to 5 weeks of operation.

It also features a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system allowing lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost, a helicopter deck and hangar for a light or medium helicopter, two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) for shipboarding, and a hyperbaric chamber.

Aside from the French ships, the PCG has two more offshore patrol vessels in construction in Japan, based on the Japan Coast Guard Kunigami-class 94-meter OPV being built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

[1] Inquirer.net

[2] Naval News