BRP Melchora Aquino
| History | |
|---|---|
 Philippines | |
| Name | BRP Melchora Aquino |
| Namesake | Melchora Aquino de Ramos |
| Ordered | 7 February 2020[1] |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd [2] |
| Cost | 14.55 billion yen for two units[3] |
| Launched | November 18, 2021[4] |
| Identification | Hull number: 9702[5] |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 96.6 m (317 ft)[6] |
| Beam | 11.5 m (38 ft)[5] |
| Draft | 4.3 m (14 ft)[7] |
| Propulsion | 2 × diesel engines, with total output of 13,200 kW (17,700 shp)[5] |
| Speed | 24 knots (44 km/h) maximum sustained[2] |
| Range | 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots[2] |
| Endurance | more than 15 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × RHIB |
| Complement | Maximum: 67 officers and sailors |
| Armament | To be determined |
| Aircraft carried | 1 × Airbus H145 helicopter[8] |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar and flight deck for 1 × Airbus H145 helicopter[8] |
The soon-to-be BRP Melchora Aquino (9702) is a 97-meter Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) ordered by the Philippine Coast Guard. The vessel will be the second ship of the Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard, which are considered the biggest ships in the agency's fleet once commissioned.
To be named after Melchora Aquino, a Filipino revolutionary during the Spanish colonial period. She was constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd based on the Kunigami class design, in Shimonoseki, Japan.[1][2]
Construction and design
The Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) as referred to by the Philippine Coast Guard, was constructed by Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd under the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2 project of the Department of Transportation in 2016.[9] The deal was worth 14.55 billion yen for two units from a JICA STEP Loan of 16.455 billion yen[10] and was signed on February 7, 2020.[1]
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the MRRV has a length of 96.6 meters, a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots, and has a complement of 67 officers and crew members. She has a two 6600 kW diesel engines.[1]
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.[8]
It was launched on 18 November 2021.[4]
The Melchora Aquino is scheduled to undergo sea trials by early 2022, and sail for Manila by May 2022.[8] It's due to be in service by September 2022.[8]
History
The ship was launched on 18 November 2021, which was held by MHI and PCG representatives physically and virtually.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d "DOTr - DOTR, MITSUBISHI SHIPBUILDING CO. SIGN CONTRACT FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 2 NEW PCG MULTI-ROLE RESPONSE VESSELS".
- ^ a b c d PCG's First Approximately 97-meter Multi-Role Response Vessel Launches in Japan Shipyard
- ^ "PCG to step up maritime patrol with new vessels from Japan | Philippines | Countries & Regions | JICA".
- ^ a b Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (18 November 2021). "2 new 97-meter ships to boost West PH Sea patrols: PCG". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV)".
- ^ "Philippine Coast Guard Gets Boost with Two New Patrol Vessels".
- ^ "94-meter Multi-Role Response Vessel Acquisition Project of the Philippine Coast Guard". Philippine Defense Resource. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- ^ a b c d e "Mitsubishi launches Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel for Philippines".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.jica.go.jp. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Ship for PH Coast Guard launched in Japan". 18 November 2021.