As a tradition, a vessel is being commissioned to grant its identity to belong to a service and to authorize it to perform the mandated missions of the agency, fly the national ensign, jack flag and the commission penant.

The MRRVs have a standard cruising speed of 25 knots, and a range of 1,500 nautical miles. Its feature includes fire monitors, night vision camera, radio direction finder, a work boat, and the bullet-proof navigational bridge. Under the project terms, the MRRVs will be the primary rescue vessels within the PCG district’s area of responsibility (AOR) when the extent of the disaster is beyond the capability of floating assets deployed within the area; provision of assistance in the control of oil pollution and protection of the marine environment; enforcement of all applicable maritime laws within the designated AOR, particularly relating to illegal fishing and sea patrol; service as platform for rapid response during relief operations in the area; and transportation of personnel and logistical support.

BRP Bagacay under the helm of Commander Joel M Simo-ag PCG and BRP Cape Engaño under Commander Dennis Rem C Labay PCG as its Commanding Officers, were built by the Japan Marine United (JMU) Corporation in Yokohama, Japan. The vessels were named after Lighthouse Bagacay in Liloan, Cebu and Lighthouse Cape Engaño in Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan respectively.

The acquisition of the MRRVs is under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project which was awarded by the transportation department to the JMU Corporation. It is being implemented as an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project via a tied loan extended by the Japan International Corporation Agency.

JMU’s winning bid is in the amount of 12,790,000,000.00 Japanese Yen, and includes the supply of standard spare parts and tools, crew training, ocean transportation, and marine insurance.