Philippines welcomes first research ship
The Philippines Navy (PN) welcomed its first ever oceanographic research vessel upon its arrival in Manila on 10 June. At its commissioning in San Diego on 27 April, the ship was christened BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR-702).
The US donated the Melville-class ship, formerly belonging to the US Office of Naval Research and operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, to the Philippines. It started life as USNS Melville in August 1969.
This vessel acquired through the Excess Defense Articles programme will enable the Philippines to better chart underwater topography within its territory, including in the South China Sea
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Aselsan completes Barbaros frigate mid-life upgrade project]()
Aselsan completes Barbaros frigate mid-life upgrade project
The upgrade has replaced a significant number of systems and elements with indigenous Turkish technology.
-
![HII and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries sign MoU to explore shipbuilding collaboration]()
HII and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries sign MoU to explore shipbuilding collaboration
The Memorandum of Understanding focused on speeding up naval shipbuilding and production in both companies.
-
![Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned]()
Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned
SSN-797 was commissioned as USS Iowa, the first Virginia-class submarine of the second Trump administration. It was described as “just the beginning” of a revitalisation of US naval shipbuilding by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
-
![Raytheon, Nammo and Northrop Grumman join forces to produce MK72 solid rocket motors]()
Raytheon, Nammo and Northrop Grumman join forces to produce MK72 solid rocket motors
MK72 is a crucial capability for the SM-3 interceptors and the Aegis BMD system.
-
![Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade]()
Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade
The critical design review puts the vessels on course to be fully upgraded by the end of 2030.
-
![Canada begins work on heavy polar icebreaker to protect its high-Arctic sovereignty]()
Canada begins work on heavy polar icebreaker to protect its high-Arctic sovereignty
The vessel, made under the auspices of the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, will be the first heavy icebreaker built in Canada for over six decades.
