Another first: PCG to deploy six ships for US, PH war games

Another first: PCG to deploy six ships for US, PH war games

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time, the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy six vessels for the expanding Balikatan war games in view of the mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo on Wednesday said four 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) and two larger patrol vessels will be deployed in the exercise which will commence next week.

In another first, there will be trilateral patrols between the Philippines, United States and France in the West Philippine Sea, but it is not yet clear if the PCG will participate in this event.

READ: Philippine, US, French navies to sail in West PH Sea for Balikatan

To date, the PCG has two 97-meter MRRVs, which is the biggest vessel in its fleet. This MRRV class based on Japan’s Kunigami-class design has a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots and an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles.

Also, the PCG also has 10 44-meter MRRVs in its fleet. Also built by Japan, these MRRVs also have a standard cruising speed of 25 knots and a range of 1,500 nautical miles, with features including fire monitors, night vision camera, radio direction finder, a work boat, and the bullet-proof navigational bridge.

READ: Coast guard teams, newest missile system in PH-US drills

The PCG regularly deploys these 44-meter MRRVs during the resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal as well as the humanitarian missions in Scarborough Shoal, which become the flashpoint of tensions between Manila and Beijing

Beijing asserts sovereignty in the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.