The Philippine government is set to receive four decommissioned US Coast Guard patrol vessels, the White House confirmed in a statement on Monday, May 1.
The vessels earmarked for handover include two 110-foot (34-metre) Island-class and two 87-foot (27-metre) Marine Protector-class cutters. In addition to these assets, two ex-US Navy Cyclone-class coastal patrol vessels were transferred to the Philippines in late April and are now en route to Manila, where they will undergo reactivation prior to being commissioned into service with the Philippine Navy.
Examples of the Marine Protector-class are also in service with the Uruguayan Navy while a number of Island-class boats are now being operated by the Ukrainian and Pakistan Navies as well as the coast guards of Costa Rica and Georgia.
The White House said the transfer of the four patrol vessels will support the Armed Forces of the Philippines' modernisation program by enhancing its maritime capabilities.