PRC turns over a humanitarian ship to PCG.
PRC donates humanitarian ship to PCG
THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) officially donated its humanitarian ship to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCGs) to fortify its maritime capabilities.
The MV PRC Amazing Grace, was formally turned over at the Coast Guard Fleet Parade Ground, Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila on Tuesday.
This donation strengthens the PCG’s capabilities in maritime search and rescue, law enforcement, safety, and environmental protection.
PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon highlighted its significance stating, “The vessel is in the best hands with the Philippine Coast Guard. With their trained personnel and a force of over 30,000, they can ensure it operates efficiently—keeping it mission-ready at all times to serve the Filipino people.”
As an archipelagic nation, the Philippines faces unique logistical challenges during disasters. This was evident during Super Typhoon Yolanda (2013), when commercial shipping was paralyzed, leaving island communities cut off from aid.
Recognizing the need for maritime capabilities, Chairman Gordon sought support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to acquire a vessel capable of rapidly transporting personnel, relief supplies, and emergency units to isolated areas.
Formerly MV Susitna, the vessel was built for the U.S. Office of Naval Research to test advanced maritime capabilities. PRC acquired the 195-foot, multi-million-peso ship in 2017 as a key asset for humanitarian missions, envisioning it as a rapid emergency response vessel for relief transport, medical deployment, sea rescue, mass evacuation, humanitarian logistics, command post operations, and training.
The MV PRC Amazing Grace was first deployed during Typhoon Rolly (2020), delivering life-saving relief to hard-to-reach communities in the Bicol Region. However, as PRC strengthened its disaster response by prepositioning supplies in regional hubs and warehouses, reliance on maritime transport decreased.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed gratitude, assuring that the vessel would be fully utilized to safeguard the nation’s waters and protect Filipino communities.
