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

34 Nawawalang Mangingisda, Nasagip ng Navy

By Pasky Natividad

Saksi, Monday, 24 January 2011

Nailigtas ng Philippine Navy ang 34 mangingisda sa Paly Island, Taytay, Palawan matapos na agad ilunsad ng Naval Forces West (NFW) Command na nakabase sa Puerto Princesa City ang BRP Rizal (PS74).

Ang F/B Jonathan I, na kinalululanan ng mga ito ay isa sa 13 sasakyan na iniulat na nawawala simula noong nakaraang Linggo, January 16 dahil sa malakas na hanging dala ng northeast monsoon. Ang mga nailigtas na mangingisda na mula sa Occidental Mindoro at PPC ay kinikilala ni Ms Norie Esparagoza, ang may-ari ng F/B Jonathan.

Agad nilapatan ng paunang lunas ang mga nakaligtas matapos silang matagpuan ng grupo ng Navy. Samantala, habang isinusulat ito ay patuloy pa rin ang PS 74 sa search and rescue para sa tatlo pang mangingisda sa karagatan ng Roxas at Linapacan.

Nakilala ang mga itong sina Bong Escondo, Bito Roldan at Limuel Tirincio. Nauna rito, matagumpay ring nailigtas ng PS 74 ang pitong mangingisda mula sa M/V marlette Joy.

Dinala ang mga nakaligtas sa Puerto Princesa City at inihatid sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Ang PS 74 ay pinamumunuan naman ni Capt. Elpidio F. Francisco PN(GSC).

"The Navy is perpetually ready to respond to various distress calls. We will remain commited to be at the forefront of humanitarian and development endeavors in support to national government for the welfare of our fellow Filipinos." Ang pahayag ng opisyal.