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
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