The Philippine Coast Guard is considering the purchase of additional large patrol vessels from Japan, a senior official of the agency told local media on Tuesday, June 14.
Deputy commandant for operations Vice Admiral Eduardo Fabricante said that talks have already begun between the coast guard and Japanese companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsubishi's Shimonoseki Shipyard, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) regarding the possible acquisition of new multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) that will be variants of the Japan Coast Guard's Kunigami-class patrol ships.
The proposed vessels will be near identical sisters of the two Teresa Magbanua-class MRRVs, which were delivered earlier this year. At 97 metres long each, the Magbanua-class MRRVs are the largest ships ever acquired by the Philippine Coast Guard.
