BRP Andres Bonifacio now off for LIMA 2017

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14): BRP Andres Bonifacio now off for LIMA 2017

The BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), the country's third and latest Hamilton-class cutter in service, formally departed for the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace (LIMA) 2017 in Malaysia Tuesday.

Departure ceremonies took place at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila.

PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna, in a statement, said the BRP Andres Bonifacio is under the Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5.

LIMA 2017 will start on March 21 and ends on the 26th.

After the exhibition, NTG 80.5 will undertake goodwill visits to Lumut and Klang, also in Malaysia.

Send-off ceremonies were presided by PN vice commander, Rear Admiral Rafael G. Mariano.

PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado will also attend LIMA 2017's Chief of Navy Roundtable Talks (CNRT).

BRP Andres Bonifacio will also participate in the LIMA Sea Exercise, a half-day multinational naval exercise among participating countries.

LIMA is one of the most influential exhibitions in Asia since this is a dedicated maritime and aerospace exhibition for defense, civil and commercial aviation, shipbuilding and ship repair.

As such, the occasion provides a great opportunity for the PN to widen its perspective as a modernizing Navy in the various avenues of upgrade especially that this event includes the exhibit of modern naval platforms.

The PN’s last participation was in the 2011 edition of the LIMA Exhibition.

The BRP Andres Bonifacio, the third Hamilton-class cutter in PN service, was formally welcomed into the fleet last Dec. 9.

The ship is armed with a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, like her sister ships, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar.

The BRP Andres Bonifacio is the former USCGC Boutwell which was retired from US Coast Guard service last March 16 and handed to the PN last July 21 (American time).

Hamilton-class cutters have a gross tonnage of 3,250 tons, has a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet.

Its propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots and a crew of 88 officers and enlisted personnel.

The ship has cruising range of 14,000 miles and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=971582