PCG: MRRV – 4403 Malapascua, the third PCG multi-role response vessel from Japan was commissioned into the service by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Atty. Arthur P Tugade. The activity was graced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress, Honorable Pantaleon D Alvarez as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the commissioning ceremony at Headquarters Philippine Coast Guard in Manila this morning, March 7.

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

MRRVs features include 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; provide 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 transport of personnel and logistical support.

The Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Malapascua  with assigned bow number 4403 was built by the Japan Marine United (JMU) Corporation in Yokohama, Japan. The vessel was named after Lighthouse Malapascua Island in Cebu in recognition of the significance of lighthouses in the maritime country.

The newly acquired Coast Guard vessel will be under the helm of Commander Gary Dale C Gimotea PCG as its Commanding Officer.

The acquisition of the MRRVs is under the project 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. The vessels will have a standard cruising speed of 25 knots, and a range of 1,500 nautical miles.