R/V Melville to arrive in PHL in June -- PN spokesperson

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 29): R/V Melville to arrive in PHL in June -- PN spokesperson

The R/V Melville, which was one of the two ships pledged by President Barack Obama to the Philippines last November, is expected to arrive in the country by third week of June.

This was confirmed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in message to the PNA Tuesday.

He said that the 30 PN contingent, which will serve as the R/V Melville's sailing crew, has already arrived in San Diego, California last March 21.

"(The crew) are scheduled for familiarization and orientation on the operation and maintenance of various equipment aboard the vessel," Lincuna said.

The R/V Melville will be manned by the above-mentioned PN personnel and is expected to be in the Philippines by third week of June, he added.

Obama pledged to donate the R/V Melville and USGCC Boutwell to the Philippines during his visit to the country during the APEC Leaders' Summit last November 17, 2015.

The R/V Melville (T-AGOR-14) -- is a research vessel operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography for oceanographic research.

She is the oldest active vessel in the academic research fleet, collectively known as the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

The R/V Melville has a displacement of 2,944 long tons and a length of 279 feet and a beam of 46 feet.

The ship has a draft of 16 feet and 6 inches.

Her propulsion system consists of two 1,385 hp Propulsion General Electric motors, Bow Thruster: 900 hp retractable Azimuth-compensating bow thruster, Two 1385 hp Z-Drive Lips propellers, giving her a cruising speed of 11. 7 knots (21.7 kilometers) and a maximum speed of 14 knots (26 kilometers).

The R/V Melville has a range of 10,061 nautical miles (18,633 kilometers).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=870950