A Hamilton cutter acquired by the Philippine Navy from the United States Coast Guard sets sail for the Philippines beginning Monday from San Francisco, California. Purchased for P450 million and manned by Filipino sailors on its voyage, the cutter is expected to dock at the Navy’s headquarters in Manila Bay after three weeks, and ultimately boost the country’s capacity to patrol the Malampaya sector off Palawan, and Philippine-claimed territories in the South China Sea in general.
Recent tensions between the Philippines, China, and Vietnam over disputed territories in the South China Sea (called the “West Philippine Sea” by Manila) have highlighted the dismal inability of the Philippines to patrol and protect its own seas.
Into this situation, the scheduled arrival of the cutter is expected to boost the morale and capabilities of the Philippine Navy – if even to symbolically express sovereignty in the face of China’s undisputed military superiority in the region.
Decommissioned by the US Coast Guard from its fleet in March 2011, the ship – previously sailing as the USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715) – has been commissioned as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15). It is now the biggest and best outfitted combat vessel of the Philippine Navy.
The journey of PF-15 will include stopovers at Hawaii and Guam for replenishment before reaching Philippine shores.
The BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) was acquired through the United States Excess Defense Act (EDA) using Department of Energy Malampaya Project funds.
The cutter has two diesel engine and gas turbines and is equipped with a helicopter flight deck, a retractable hangar, and facilities to support helicopter operations.
The cutter was largely used by the USCG for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection, and defense readiness. The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, intends to use this multi-mission vessel for maritime security patrols and search-and-rescue operations.
“More specifically, it will be deployed to aid in the maritime security of the Malampaya Project west of Palawan,” Navy chief Alexander Pama said.
PF-15 was turned over to the Philippine Government last May 13 in rites attended by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr., US Coast Guard Pacific Area & Defense Force West Commander, Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache to the US, PN Captain Antonio A. Habulan Jr.
RP acquired former US Coast Guard Ship
Posting Permissions
