By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine Navy (PN) will deploy the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), one of its most capable offshore patrol vessels, to the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise 2019.
In a message to the Philippine News Agency Sunday, Navy spokesperson Captain Jonathan Zata said the ship and the 200-man contingent aboard her will depart from Pier 13, Manila South Harbor around 9 a.m. Tuesday. The ADMM-Plus MARSEC FTX 2019 will take place from April 29 to May 14, he added.
Zata said BRP Andres Bonifacio will sail to Busan, Republic of Korea and Changi, Singapore to participate in the naval maneuvers.
“ADMM-Plus MARSEC FTX 2019 represents an opportunity for invited navies to participate in multinational maritime activities in a manner which promotes greater levels of military cooperation and understanding amongst nations in a maritime security environment,” Zata said.
The BRP Andres Bonifacio is among the three Del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels being operated by the PN.
The ships in the class are the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17). They were former Hamilton-class cutters acquired from the United States during 2011, 2013 and 2016.
These vessels have a gross tonnage of 3,250 tons, a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet while its propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots.
They have a cruising range of 14,000 miles and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days, and armed with a 76-mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, 25mm and 20mm light cannons and .50 caliber machineguns.
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