By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) biggest and newest naval asset arrived last Friday in Bacolod City for a port visit.

The BRP Gabriela Silang is an 84-meter long offshore patrol vessel. The ship was launched at OCEA Shipbuilding at Les Sables-d’Olonne in France on July 17, 2019 and was formally commissioned to the PCG on April 13, 2020.

Commander Alberto Ferre, the ship’s commanding officer, said the reason why they are currently deployed in Bacolod City is due to the incoming storms and typhoons, and they are just on standby should there be any emergencies in the Visayas area.

Ferre said he took command of the ship when it was handed over to them in France in December 2019 until its commissioning when it finally arrived in Manila.

The BRP Gabriela Silang commissioning also came in time when the country was placed under enhanced community quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

From April up to this month, the PCG vessel was assigned in transporting locally stranded individuals (LSIs), and medical supplies.

The ship had also previously visited Bacolod City last May, transporting Negrense LSIs and delivering personal protective equipment for Covid-19 frontliners in Negros Occidental.

As to the ship’s capabilities, its complement consists of 60 crew members and can last 22 days at sea without reprovisioning.

Ferre said the ship is also capable of handling rough weather as it is fully-equipped with stabilizers, which also make it fully capable of rescue operations during bad weather.

The ship can also sail at a top speed of 21 knots.

As for armaments, Ferre said the ship is currently unarmed, although the ship will receive its own weapon systems in the future.//DGB, WDJ