BRP Ramon Alcaraz concludes Panama Canal crossing

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20): BRP Ramon Alcaraz concludes Panama Canal crossing

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), the second Hamilton-class cutter in Philippine service, has successfully concluded her Panama Canal crossing Tuesday night (American time).

This was revealed by Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic Thursday.

The ship is the sister ship of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15).

With this achievement, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz becomes the first Filipino warship to cross the historic waterway under her own power.

"She passed by Panama Canal Tuesday evening (American time) and is now enroute for San Diego, California," he added.

Fabic said that the BRP Ramon Alcaraz is expected to reach the latter port before the end of June.

The Philippine frigate entered the Panama Canal Zone during the weekend or almost five days after her June 10 departure in Charleston, South Carolina.

The 82-kilometer Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean.

It cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade.

Prior her arrival at the Panama Canal Zone, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz made a brief stopover at Mayport, Florida and successfully test fired her 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon and conducted speed trials which she attained the speed of 25 knots without any difficulty.

The ship's top speed is place between 29 to 31 knots.

The Filipino warship is expected to reach the Philippines by the first week of August and be in commission by September.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=536488