BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301)

BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is the designation of an offshore patrol vessel commissioned for the Philippine Coast Guard. She was built by OCEA Shipbuilding of Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. Named after Gabriela Silang, a revolutionary leader during the Philippine struggle for independence from Spain, the ship's design is based on the OPV-270 Mk. II offshore patrol vessel, which was first unveiled in Euronaval 2014.[4] She is the first offshore patrol vessel and the largest and most modern vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard.

BRP Gabriela Silang was formally launched in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
History
Philippines
Name: BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) [1]
Namesake: Filipina revolutionary leader María Josefa Gabriela Cariño de Silang (1731–1763)
Awarded: 6 September 2017[2]
Builder: OCEA Shipbuilding, Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Launched: 17 July 2019
Acquired: 19 December 2019
Commissioned: 13 April 2020
Identification:
General characteristics
Class and type: Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel
Length: 84 m (276 ft)
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h) maximum sustained
Range: 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km) at 12 knots[3]
Endurance: 30-45 Days[3]
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 × RHIB
Capacity: 500
Crew: 44
Aircraft carried: 1 helicopter
Aviation facilities: Hangar and flight deck for 1 x 10-ton helicopters

She was delivered to the Philippine Coast Guard on December 18, 2019. Spanning 84 meters in length, she currently holds the title for longest aluminum-hull OPV in the world. [5][6]

History

During the delivery cruise of the ship, it conducted a technical stopover in Malta, where the ship was asked to stand-by for instructions from the Philippine government as it was being considered to be deployed in the Middle East to evacuate Filipino citizens if an escalation of hostilities between the US and Iran happens.

It transferred to Catania, Sicily in Italy as it was also instructed to be on stand-by since the ongoing civil war in Libya as the country's capital Tripoli has been besieged, forcing Filipino embassy officials and workers to evacuate.

With the situation of Filipinos from Libya became better, the ship was instructed to come home to the Philippines, passing through the Suez Canal in Egypt and conducting another technical stopover in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The ship reached Philippine waters on 6 April 2020, and it proceeded to Manila on 7 April 2020, where it was met by ships and aircraft from the Philippine Coast Guard off Manila Bay. Its arrival in Manila was low-key, with no ceremony conducted due to the Covid-19 situation although the media was allowed to record its arrival.

Commissioning

Secretary of Transportation Arthur P. Tugade and PCG Commandant, Admiral Joel S. Garcia lead the low-key commissioning ceremony of BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) on 13 April 2020.

This is during the height of the enhanced community quarantine. PCG will use the BRP Gabriela Silang to ferry frontline health workers, medical supplies, PPE, and medicines to regional hospitals in the country.

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References
  1. MaxDefense Philippines 07 November 2018 0938H
  2. Philippine News Agency (7 September 2017). "PCG acquires French sea vessels for maritime security". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  3. "OPV 270". OCEA Shipbuildng. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  4. "French Shipyard OCEA showcases its new range of OPV at Euronaval 2014". Naval Recognition. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  5. Gabriela Silang OPV Handed Over to Philippine Coast Guard by OCEA
  6. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/18/1935768/coast-guards-most-modern-ship-patrol-west-philippine-sea-benham-rise
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