PH Navy holds arrival ceremony for future BRP Rajah Sulayman

The Philippine Navy has welcomed the arrival of its latest offshore patrol vessel, a South Korean-made ship that will serve as the future BRP Rajah Sulayman.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said the arrival ceremony was conducted on Tuesday, January 20, at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales.

Designed for sustained operations, the BRP Rajah Sulayman will act as the lead ship of the Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessels (OPV),  according to the Philippine Navy's statement issued Wednesday.

The vessel will support maritime patrols, domain awareness, and law enforcement missions at several Philippine maritime zones, including the West Philippine Sea.

"Our OPVs shall stand as a modern symbol of courage, as they will primarily contribute to safeguarding our maritime domain and patrolling the Philippines' exclusive economic zone," said Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy.

"This vessel's arrival is a strong testament to our country’s relentless drive toward protecting our territorial integrity, thereby protecting its primary assets: the Filipino people. We owe them a secure and peaceful future, and to deliver on this, it is our duty to strengthen our Navy to ensure that we can counter new forms of warfare, play an integral role in joint defense within our armed forces, and enhance interoperability with partner and like-minded navies," he added. 

The vessel is the first OPV constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Philippine Navy.

It arrived in the country from South Korea on January 17.

The Philippine Navy earlier said the vessel would undergo post-delivery activities, including technical inspections and systems checks.

It was scheduled to pass acceptance and pre-commissioning processes before its formal entry into active service. 

Once commissioned, the patrol vessel is expected to bolster the Navy's maritime defense and law enforcement missions, particularly in patrol, surveillance, and presence operations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News