BRP Teresa Magbanua

BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) is the lead ship of her class of patrol vessels operated by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The service officially classifies her as a multi-role response vessel (MRRV). She is one of the largest, and most modern vessels of the PCG.^[7]

BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701)
History
Philippines
Name	BRP Teresa Magbanua
Namesake	Teresa Magbanua
Ordered	February 7, 2020[1]
Builder	Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd [2]
Cost	14.55 billion yen for two units[3]
Launched	July 26, 2021[2]
Acquired	February 21, 2022
Commissioned	May 6, 2022
Identification	IMO number: 9908669 MMSI number: 548897700 Callsign: 4DJF8 Hull number: 9701[4]
General characteristics
Length	96.6 m (316 ft 11 in)[5]
Beam	11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)[1]
Draft	4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)[1]
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines, with total output of 13,200 kW (17,700 shp)[6]
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h) maximum sustained[2]
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[2]
Endurance	more than 15 days
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × RHIB
Complement	67 officers and sailors max
Armament	To be determined
Aircraft carried	1 × Airbus H145 helicopter
Aviation facilities	Hangar and flight deck for 1 × Airbus H145 helicopter

She is named after Teresa Magbanua, a Filipino schoolteacher who participated in all three resistance movements in Philippine history: against Spain (in the Philippine Revolution), the United States (in the Philippine–American War), and Japan (in World War II).^[8]

Construction and design

She was constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in Shimonoseki, Japan based on the Kunigami-class patrol vessels. The contract was under the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2" project of the Department of Transportation in 2016.^[9] The deal was worth 14.55 billion yen for two units from a JICA STEP Loan of 16.455 billion yen^[10] and was signed on February 7, 2020.^[1]

The vessel has a length of 96.6 meters (316 ft 11 in), a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph), and has a complement of 67 officers and crew members. She is powered by two 6,600-kilowatt (8,900 hp) diesel engines.^[1] She has a helideck, and a hangar that can accommodate the H145T2 helicopter of the PCG. She also has a hyperbaric chamber for those who have diving sickness and a survivor room that can accommodate those who will be rescued.

The first steel cutting ceremony happened on December 18, 2020. She was launched on July 26, 2021.^[11] The vessel underwent sea trials conducted by the shipbuilder and the PCG in late 2021. She arrived at Manila on February 18, 2022.^[12]

History

On May 6, 2022, the vessel was commissioned by the Philippine Coast Guard.^[7]

On May 12, 2024, the Teresa Magbanua, along with BRP Cabra and BRP Malabrigo, was sent to Escoda Shoal — a sandbank located 75 nautical miles (139 km; 86 mi)s from the coastline of Palawan to monitor the activities of the China Coast Guard in the area. A RHIB were also sent to intercept or at least get close to the Chinese vessels.^[13] On August 31, the Teresa Magbanua was damaged after being rammed three times by a China Coast Guard vessel while anchored near Escoda Shoal.^[14]