Navy eyes purchase of coast guard cutter from US

By Alexis Romero

The Philippine Star, Monday, 24 January 2011

The Navy plans to acquire a Hamilton-class cutter from the United States to boost its capability to conduct patrols and rescue missions.

Navy chief Rear Adm. Alexander Pama said officials are now negotiating with their US counterparts for the acquisition of the ship.

“There are negotiations for the possible acquisition of a US Coast Guard cutter. It will definitely boost (our capability) a lot given this is a weather heavy endurance cutter,” Pama told reporters over the weekend.

He said they are still threshing out details of the acquisition of the vessel, which is used to conduct patrols in the high seas.

“We are still discussing this. Nothing is final. We are in the stage where there is understanding already. We will formally send a letter request,” the Navy chief said.

A cutter is a high-speed vessel that can cut through waves. If the acquisition pushes through, the ship would be the first Hamilton-class cutter in the Navy’s inventory.

Navy spokesman Capt. Giovanni Bacordo said the ship might arrive in the country within the first semester of this year.

He said the US Coast Guard cutter would become their largest ship once it becomes part of their assets.

“It (cutter) would be our largest ship at 380 ft. long. At present, our largest surface combatant, BRP Rajah Humabon, is only 308 feet long,” Bacordo said.

Navy officials declined to say whether the US would donate the cutter and how much the ship costs. Pama, however, said the Philippines might shoulder the needed repairs and training of personnel who will use the ship.

“I cannot tell the exact figure. It depends on the components to be placed in the ship. That would determine the pricing,” he said.

When asked if the cutter would be designated as the Navy’s flagship, Bacordo said: “It depends on the Navy leadership.”

Navy records showed that out of the 53 patrol ships in the inventory, only 25 are operational.

These patrol ships are of the average age of 36.4 years old. The biggest of these vessels like the Mine Sweeper Frigates and patrol craft escorts are 66 and 67 years old, respectively.

Only two of the seven Navy transport vessels are operational and are already 15 years old.

The non-operational vessels are 64 years old. On the other hand, only four of the 10 Navy auxiliary ships are operational. From among the 32 small crafts, 23 are operational with an average age of 21.3 years old.

The Navy is searching for ways to upgrade its capabilities without using the yearly budget, which is usually allotted for salaries and operational expenses. It has bared plans to set up a foundation that will gather assistance from private firms and individuals who want to help in improving its capabilities.

“We are planning to have this navy foundation where well-meaning individuals, groups, or firms can donate property, educational grant or anything that can be of help to us,” Bacordo said in an earlier interview.

The foundation may be formed within the first half of the year.

The Navy has also formed a new office that will look into proposals designed to tap public-private partnerships (PPP) to fund its modernization program.

The Capacity Resource Development and Special Projects Branch, which is under the Navy’s Resource Management Office, was tasked to find possible sources of income and to study proposals related to PPP.

Navy officials have cited the need to modernize the military’s rescue teams since the country is vulnerable to typhoons and other disasters.

Navy buying used US cutter

By Donna Pazzibugan

The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Monday, 24 January 2011

The Philippine Navy is seeking to acquire a secondhand ship from the United States Coast Guard to upgrade its antiquated fleet.

Navy Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said they were in talks with the US government to acquire a Hamilton class cutter, the largest ship in the US Coast Guard Fleet next to its polar icebreakers.

"We are actively discussing with the US Government the possible acquisition of a Hamilton-class cutter," Pama told reporters.

He said they had their eye on a high-endurance cutter to significantly boost country's capability to patrol its vast waters.

"We need this to boost security in our exclusive economic zone," he said.

The Hamilton-class cutter, at 115 meters, would be the biggest ship in the Philippine Navy fleet which consists of donated World War II era ships with an average age of 65 years.

The normal operating life span of a sea vessel is 30 years.

Pamadid not give the cost of acquisition, saying negotiations were ongoing.

But he said the Navy might shoulder the cost of repairs and training to operate the ship.

"We are in the stage where there is an understanding. We are about to send formal letter request," he said.

Former Navy flag officer in command Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez, who retired on Jan. 4 inspected the vessel they planne dto acquire by November, according to Navy spokesperson.

Capt. Giovanni Bacordo also said they expected the ship to be in the country within the first half of the year.

The vessel will replace the Navy's flagship BRP Raja Humabon, a Cannon-class destroyer escort which is probably one of the world's oldest war ships, the Navy said.

The Hamilton-class cutter is equiped with a rectractable hangar, helicopter flight deck and a close-in weapon system. It's powered by a dual engine or gas turbines.

Navy soon to get its largest vessel ever

By Victor Reyes

Malaya, Monday, 24 January 2011

The Navy is in the process of acquiring a Hamilton class US Coast Guard cutter, a high-endurance ship which will be the Navy’s largest vessel if the acquisition under the Foreign Military Sales of the US Department of Defense pushes through.

Rear Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy chief, did not say at what price the vessel would be acquired. He said details are still being discussed.

Pama said the vessel might be delivered this year.

He said discussions are also ongoing for the acquisition of other US ships.

Navy spokesman Capt. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said former Navy chief Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez inspected the cutter during a visit to US last November. Cortez retired early this month.

The cutter will be the first in the inventory of the Navy whose modernization program is being delayed by lack of funds.

Pama said the vessel is expected to boost the Navy’s capability, particularly in the conduct of patrol in the high seas and in search and rescue operations during disasters.

Twelve High Endurance Cutters (WHEC) were introduced in the US Coast Guard inventory in the 1960s. The first of the class was the Hamilton (WHEC-715) commissioned in 1967.

According to the US Coast Guard website, the 378-foot WHEC class is the largest of cutters, aside from three major icebreakers, ever built for the US Coast Guard.

These are equipped with a helicopter flight deck, retractable hangar, and facilities to support helicopter deployment.

The largest surface combatant ship of the Navy now is the destroyer escort BRP Rajah Humabon which is 308 feet long.

Navy Eyeing purchase of used sea vessel from US

The Manila Times, Monday, 24 January 2011

THE Philippine Navy on Sunday said it was conducting talks with the United States government to buy a second-hand coastguard cutter to upgrade its ageing fleet. Navy chief Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said the 115-meter Hamilton class vessel, which he did not name, would significantly boost Manila’s capability to patrol its archipelago.

“We are actively discussing with the US government the possible acquisition of the Hamilton class,” he said.

“We need this to boost security in our exclusive economic zone,” Pama added.

The Navy admiral said the Hamilton class cutters are the biggest vessels used by the US coastguard, with the exception of heavy ice breakers.

The vessel was expected to arrive in Manila in the first half of the year, replacing the navy’s flagship BRP Raja Humabon, a Cannon-class destroyer escort, which is probably one of the world’s oldest war ships, the Filipino Navy said.

Equipped with a retractable hangar, a helicopter flight deck and powered by a dual engine or gas turbines, the Hamilton cutter is described as a high endurance cutter with close-in weapons systems.

Pama said he could not disclose exact figures for the purchase, which he described as the first of several being planned.

The Philippines is considered a non-NATO military ally by the United States, which has been sending troops to the impoverished country for training missions to help crush Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Mindanao.

The Philippine armed forces is considered by many experts as among the weakest in the Asian region, but President Benigno Aquino 3rd vowed to modernise it shortly after assuming his post in June last year.

AFP