Philippines boosts coastguard fleet with 49 new ships from France, Japan

The French deal also promises local vessel production and technology transfer – as Manila plans to add 7,000 coastguard personnel by 2026

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Philippine Navy ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz PS16 and a fast attack interdiction craft Domingo Deluana participate in a drill in the South China Sea. Photo: AP

Published: 12:30pm, 13 Nov 2024

The Philippine coastguard is set for a transformative upgrade with the planned acquisition of 49 new ships from France and Japan, as it seeks to bolster its ability to defend the country’s maritime sovereignty amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

“Starting 2027, we will be adding at least 49 ships to our fleet. So that will more than double the capability of the Philippine coastguard,” Philippine coastguard commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan announced at the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea.

On the sidelines of last week’s conference, which was also attended by coastguard chiefs from Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan, the admiral confirmed to This Week in Asia that the new vessels would include 40 fast-patrol craft (FPC) from France, measuring 35 metres (115ft) in length, to be acquired through a long-term financing deal with the French government.

The French embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment on the deal.

The official development assistance loan package from France amounts to at least US$438 million and includes a nine-year logistics support programme along with additional equipment, as approved by the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Board on November 5.

The deal differs from other official development assistance packages by incorporating a local component and technology transfer, with 20 vessels to be built in France and 20 manufactured in the Philippines, according to Gavan.