The Parola-class patrol vessel consists of ten vessels currently in service with the Philippine Coast Guard. Their hull number prefix "MRRV" means they are officially classified as "multi-role response vessels". They will be named after primary lighthouses in the Philippines, with the Filipino word "Parola" meaning "lighthouse" in English. The lead ship, BRP Tubbataha, is named after a major lighthouse situated in the Tubbataha Marine National Park in Palawan.
Project planning and funding The ships, a based on the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard" project of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan. JICA will provide Php 7,373,700,000.00, while the Philippine government will shoulder Php 1,434,000,000.00 of the entire project value.
Japanese shipbuilders were shortlisted by the DOTC, among them Japan Marine United Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Nigata Shipbuilding and Repair Inc., and Sumidagawa Shipyard Co. Inc.
Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) won the tender against other Japanese shipbuilders with a bid price of Y12,790,000,000 (Php 4,600,000,000.00).
Under the project terms, the MRRVs will be used by the PCG for the following purposes:
Primary rescue vessels within the PCG Districts' areas of responsibility (AOR) when the extent of the disaster is beyond the capability of floating assets deployed within the area Assistance in the control of oil pollution and protection of the marine environment Enforcement of applicable maritime laws within the designated AOR, particularly relating to illegal fishing and sea patrol Service as platform for rapid response during relief operations in the area Transport of personnel and logistical support.
Design and features
The Philippine Coast Guard clarified that the ships are designed for law enforcement duties, to conduct environmental and humanitarian missions, as well as maritime security operations and patrol missions.
The ships are designed with a bulletproof navigation bridge, and is equipped with fire monitors, night vision capability, a work boat, and radio direction finder capability.
The ships are equipped with communications and radio monitoring equipment from Rohde & Schwarz, specifically the M3SR Series 4400 and Series 4100 software-defined communication radios, and DDF205 radio monitoring equipment. These equipment enhances the ship's reconnaissance, pursuit and communications capabilities.
Ships in class
Hull numberNameBuilderLaunchedCommissionedStatusMRRV-4401BRP TubbatahaJapan Marine United12 May 201612 October 2016ActiveMRRV-4402BRP Malabrigo4 October 201622 December 2016ActiveMRRV-4403BRP MalapascuaJanuary 20177 March 2017ActiveMRRV-4404BRP CaponesMarch 201720 November 2017ActiveMRRV-4406BRP SuluanJune 201720 November 2017ActiveMRRV-4407BRP SindanganAugust 201720 November 2017ActiveMRRV-4408BRP Cape San AgustinSeptember 201728 March 2018ActiveMRRV-4409BRP CabraJanuary 201828 March 2018ActiveMRRV-4410BRP BagacayMay 201823 August 2018ActiveMRRV-4411BRP Cape EngañoJuly 201823 August 2018Active
References