Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) newest offshore patrol vessel Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gabriela Silang has arrived in the country and will be on a mission to ferry medical supplies, PPEs, hospital workers, and frontliners from the regional hospitals.
The newest and largest French-made BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), named after the Philippines’ Joan of Arc, arrived in the country on April 6, 2020.
According to the PCG Commandant, Admiral Joel Garcia, BRP Gabriela Silang may also be designated as a quarantine ship if needed and is expected to carry around 500 passengers at a time.
PCG said that it is “ready for service after several weeks of convoying from its first operational mission in the Middle East” to assist in the repatriation of Filipinos there.
The BRP Gabriela Silang is designed to carry out Philippine coast guard missions and responsibilities such as search and rescue, diving operations, anti-piracy, and anti-terrorism campaigns of the government. Read about its capabilities here.
Ambulance ships were also deployed earlier this year to ferry patients in Quezon.
Meantime, the first Ocean-Powered Hybrid Trimaran made in the Philippines is expected to set sail before the end of 2020.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the Philippine Coast Guard and the BRP Gabriela Silang for taking on a mission to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
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