The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) formally named a new FRP-hulled tuna carrier on Wednesday, September 9.
Davao Pacific Bluefin was built by local shipyard Pinoy Catamaran Corporation at a cost of PHP5.25 million (US$108,000). It has a length of 20 metres and is designed to be capable of operating up to 15 kilometres from shore whereas the older nine-metre fish carriers in the DA fleet were limited to a distance of eight kilometres.
The DA said the vessel may also be utilised for limited fisheries protection duties.
Davao Pacific Bluefin is slated for operations in the waters of Davao region in the southern Philippines.
