95 Navy personnel to man new Phl warship

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 95 Navy personnel will man the military’s newly acquired US Hamilton-class cutter that will arrive in Manila next month, Navy officials said yesterday.

Navy chief Adm. Alexander Pama, who is now in San Francisco, California to inspect the ship, said the vessel would be sent off today and would be formally commissioned once it arrives in the Philippines.

“We have 95 strong sailors who would man the ship. They will serve as the crew of the ship,” Pama told radio dzRH reporter Bing Formento.

Pama and Philippine Deputy General Consul to San Francisco Wilfredo Santos will attend the sendoff ceremony.

He expressed confidence that the public would be satisfied with their latest acquisition.

“I think our countrymen would be happy once this shop arrives there (in Manila),” Pama said.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said the cutter, to be named BRP Gregorio del Pilar, is expected to arrive next month. He said the ship will be used to secure natural resources and the Malampaya energy projects in the West Philippine Sea.

“It (acquisition of the Hamilton-class cutter) will boost our naval assets in the area,” Tonsay said in a phone interview.

The transfer cost is pegged at P450 million while the operational cost for two years is estimated at P120 million.

A cutter is a high-speed vessel that can cut through waves. The newly acquired ship is the Navy’s first Hamilton-class cutter and would become its largest vessel.

Hamilton-class ships have dual diesel and gas turbine engines that give them a top speed of 29 knots and can remain at sea without refueling for 45 days.

Tonsay said the ship was acquired through the United States Excess Defense Act using proceeds from the Malampaya project funds.

The 380 feet-long cutter was turned over by the US Coast Guard to Philippine officials in California last May 13.

The turnover rites were attended by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr., US Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West Commander Vice Admiral Manson Brown, and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache to the US, Navy Capt. Antonio Habulan Jr.  

Tonsay said the Hamilton-class cutter was largely used by the US Coast Guard for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection and defense readiness.

The military also plans to acquire two more Hamilton-class cutters from the US to beef up its maritime defense capabilities. Officials are optimistic that the US would allow the Philippines to acquire the two cutters.