PCG gets a humanitarian ship donated by PH Red Cross

ON TO NEW MISSIONS Now in the hands of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the MV Amazing Grace will still be used as a humanitarian vessel but may now venture into unfamiliar waters, so to speak, such as far out into the West Philippine Sea. It still bears the symbol of its previous operator, the Philippine Red Cross, in this file photo. —Photo courtesy of PCG

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will now be the user of a 55-meter vessel earlier operated by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), enhancing its capability to conduct humanitarian missions to remote areas across the archipelago, such as Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan and PRC chair Richard Gordon had the deed of donation signed at the PRC headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Friday.

Gavan said the MV Amazing Grace would “serve as a critical asset in delivering medical and humanitarian aid to remote communities, particularly in coastal areas.”

“We are very fortunate that the Red Cross has recognized that transferring a key asset of the PRC to the Coast Guard would somehow enable both of us to put more value to this asset. Rest assured that the coast guard will do everything we can to put that value both of us desires.” he said.

The ship, he added, would “strengthen the PCG’s capacity to respond to emergencies, natural disasters and public health crisis.”

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Gordon said he hoped that the vessel would be used effectively, particularly for missions to remote areas like Pag-asa Island.

The Amazing Grace was officially commissioned by the PRC in May 2017.

It was designed by the US Navy as a landing craft and originally called the MV Susitna, before it was purchased by the PRC from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Alaska, United States, at $1.75 million (approximately P88 million).

As the country’s first ship fully dedicated to humanitarian operations, it can carry up to 20 vehicles, with an overall freight capacity of 35 tons. As an evacuation transport, it can hold up to 120 people. —Nestor Corrales