BRP Teresa Magbanua explained

BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) is the lead ship of her class of patrol vessels operated by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The service officially classifies her as a multi-role response vessel (MRRV). She is one of the largest, and most modern vessels of the PCG.[1]

She is named after Teresa Magbanua, a Filipino schoolteacher who participated in all three resistance movements in Philippine history: against Spain (in the Philippine Revolution), the United States (in the Philippine–American War), and Japan (in World War II).[2]

Construction and design

She was constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in Shimonoseki, Japan based on the s. The contract was under the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2" project of the Department of Transportation in 2016.[3] The deal was worth 14.55 billion yen for two units from a JICA STEP Loan of 16.455 billion yen[4] and was signed on February 7, 2020.

The vessel has a length of 96.6m (316.9feet), a maximum speed of not less than 24kn, and has a complement of 67 officers and crew members. She is powered by two 6600kW diesel engines. She 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.

The first steel cutting ceremony happened on December 18, 2020. She was launched on July 26, 2021.[5] The vessel underwent sea trials conducted by the shipbuilder and the PCG in late 2021. She arrived at Manila on February 18, 2022.[6]

History

On May 6, 2022, the vessel was commissioned by the Philippine Coast Guard.[1]

On May 12, 2024, the Teresa Magbanua, along with and, was sent to Escoda Shoal — a sandbank located s from the coastline of Palawan to monitor the activities of the China Coast Guard in the area. A RHIB were also sent to intercept or at least get close to the Chinese vessels.[7] On August 31, the Teresa Magbanua was damaged after being rammed three times by a China Coast Guard vessel while anchored near Escoda Shoal.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PCG dubs newest, largest vessel 'BRP Teresa Magbanua' . Philippine News Agency . May 7, 2022 . May 8, 2022.
  2. Web site: 5 Filipino heroines who changed Philippine history. 2021-07-28. 2021-01-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117220015/https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/06/07/5-filipino-heroines.html. dead.
  3. Web site: 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.
  4. Web site: Signing of Japanese ODA Loan Agreement with the Republic of the Philippines: Further strengthening the maritime safety capability of the Philippine Coast Guard . JICA . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728063358/https://www.jica.go.jp/english/news/press/2016/161026_01.html . 28 July 2021 . dead.
  5. Web site: Marasigan . Lorenz S. . Coast Guard's largest multi-role response vessel launched virtually in Japan–DOTr . . 26 July 2021. 26 August 2021.
  6. Web site: Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua arrives in Manila. 28 Feb 2022.
  7. Web site: 2024-05-12 . PCG sends BRP Teresa Magbanua to intensify monitoring against China’s illegal acts on Escoda Shoal . 2024-05-30 . Manila Standard . en-US.
  8. News: China ‘deliberately rammed, collided’ with PH Coast Guard ship in Escoda Shoal . 15 August 2024 . . August 15, 2024.