The ship was named Teresa Magbanua, about 97 meters long, weighing 2,260 tons.
The Philippine Coast Guard has commissioned its largest ever coast guard vessel with Japanese support. The ship was named Teresa Magbanua, about 97 meters long, weighing 2,260 tons. The ship is equipped with the latest radar system, capable of monitoring a large area. The ship also carries a remote-controlled unmanned submersible. It is expected that this ship will participate in rescue missions and surveillance activities in the East Sea. In the near future, Japan also plans to provide another large patrol boat to Manila.
The Philippines classifies the Teresa Magbanua as a Multi-Role response vessel. The new vessel, with the designation MRRV-9701, has a maximum speed of 24 knots and an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles. It is seen to boost the Philippine Coast Guard’s capability in patrolling the country’s maritime territory and providing a swift response to offshore and coastal incidents. In addition, Magbanua will strengthen its capability to perform “humanitarian” missions and address its “safety concerns and commitments” in Philippine waters.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua is based on the Kunigami-class ships of the Japan Coast Guard. The Japanese government for supporting the modernization efforts of the Philippine Coast Guard and other projects of the Duterte administration. The second 97-meter MRRV would reach the Philippines in June, to be dubbed the “BRP Melchora Aquino”. The two vessels were procured under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2 of the Department of Transportation.
The MRRV 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. It held its first steel cutting ceremony on 18 December 2020, and was launched on 26 July 2021.
During the commissioning ceremony, Philippine Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the new addition to the Coast Guard fleet would address ‘safety concerns and commitments’ in Philippine waters and boost humanitarian capability. Tugade added that the new vessels showed the relationship between his country and Japan was ‘firm and strong’.
