PH Navy gets its first oil tanker

CAVITE CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Navy commissioned over the weekend the first ocean-going oil tanker to join its fleet, improving its replenishment-at-sea capability.

The former motor tanker of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) – MT Lapu-Lapu – was donated to the navy and renamed BRP Lake Caliraya (AF81). The official turnover happened on Saturday, May 23, as part of the navy’s month-long anniversary activities.

“With the commissioning of this oil tanker, the navy has now a credible delivery platform that shalle extend the operational range and scope of our ships especially those operating in the high seas and the EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” said Navy chief Vice Admiral Jesus Millan.

This means that navy ships will no longer have to travel farther inland to refuel. 

BRP Lake Caliraya is a “single product Replenishment Platform that has  depot-to-ship, ship-to-depot, and ship-to-ship refueling capabilities,” according to a navy press release.

Millan said the oil tanker will be working with the navy’s two most capable warships – the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz – deployed to patrol the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“Together they will not only enhance sustained patrols in the West Philippine Sea, but also provide a capability to work with our regional partners to keep the strategic sea lines of communication open and secure for international commerce,” Millan said.

The ill-equipped Philippine Navy is at the forefront of dealing with the challenges posed by China’s aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 

The tanker was built in China in 2007 at a time when the Philippines and China were jointly exploring the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) through the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU). President Benigno Aquino III later stopped the joint exploration. 

“She was built in Zhejiang Zhongxing Shipyard in Taizhou, People’s Republic of China in November 2007. The sailing crew commissioned by the PNOC brought the ship from Taizhou, China to Manila, Philippines in January 2008. The ship was used by the PNOC in transporting mainly bunker fuel to the different ports in the Philippines,” the navy press released added. – Rappler.com