PH ships deployed for Mideast repatriation

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Administrator's note: See also PH orders mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq


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PH ships deployed for Mideast repatriation to refuel in Sri Lanka
By Priam Nepomuceno  January 22, 2020, 2:53 pmShare 

BRP Davao del Sur (left) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz. (File photo)

MANILA -- Strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and its escort BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) will have a stopover in Sri Lanka before heading to the Middle East to assist in the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"They are now in the Strait of Malacca (in Malaysia). Per plan, they will refuel in Sri Lanka before heading for Oman," Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Wednesday when sought for updates on the flotilla which left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last January 13.

The ships are expected to arrive in the south Asian nation by January 26 or 27 and will head for Oman after refueling.

PN flag-in-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad earlier said the voyage to the Middle East will last around 16 to 22 days.

The PN chief added that the vessels will be docking at a safe port in the region.

Empedrad also instructed the PN contingent to be "alert and safe" and that the safety of the crew and the ship(s) is always paramount at all times.

Also, the PN chief said that they are making the necessary coordination for refueling, reprovisioning and docking during the course of the mission.

The deployment of the naval task force is in support of the AFP Joint Task Force “Pagpauli” mission in the Middle East and in line with the interagency undertaking Oplan Pagbabalik to ensure the safe repatriation of OFWs in Iran, Iraq and other areas in the Middle East.

The BRP Davao del Sur and BRP Ramon Alcaraz will serve as sea-based platforms that can provide decent accommodations and necessities for OFWs affected by tensions in the Middle East. (PNA)

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Middle East-bound PH Navy ships on its historical mark in Sri Lanka

https://www.facebook.com/BRPDavaodelSurLD602Official/posts/2769867669767853

Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Philippine Navy (PN) vessels, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) made its first historical mark as it made its stop here, at the East Container Terminal in The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, January 26, Sunday noontime.

Read more: https://navy.mil.ph/pn_web_news.php?news_id=2062

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PH Navy ships Davao Del Sur, Alcaraz arrive in Oman

https://www.facebook.com/philippinenavy/posts/10157175926087956

Muscat, Oman - Philippine Navy (PN) ships BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) carrying the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 contingent, arrived here at Sultan Qaboos Port late afternoon of February 05, Wednesday to help in the repatriation of OFWs affected by the tensions in the Middle East.

Head of mission Marine Col. Noel Beleran, along with LD602 and PS16 commanding officers paid courtesy call to the Philippine envoy to Oman, Ambassador Narciso Castañeda.

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PH naval contingent for Mideast evacuation now in Oman
By Priam Nepomuceno  February 6, 2020, 10:56 am

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093073

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday said the strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and offshore patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), which are tasked to evacuate Filipino overseas workers in the Middle East, finally arrived and docked off Muscat, Oman Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, PN public affairs office chief, said the two ships carrying the contingent of Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 safely arrived at the Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat.

Mission head Marine Col. Noel Beleran, along with the commanding officers of the two PN ships, immediately made a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso Castañeda.

Roxas said the two ships will serve as a sea-based platform for the government to process and facilitate the repatriation of displaced OFWs.

"Specifics and other details about the repatriation are expected to be finalized after the scheduled joint AFP-PNP command conference to be presided by the Commander-In-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Malacañang on which NTF 82 will take part via video teleconferencing together with Ambassador Castañeda," she said.

Beleran said the PN contingent is "all safe and sound" upon arriving in Oman.

The contingent left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last January 13 and made refueling and reprovisioning stop in Sri Lanka last week before heading for Oman.

"The troops are very happy and in high spirits, since this event serves as another milestone for our Navy that we can already transcend across the deep waters of the Indian Ocean or the Arabian Sea," he added.

Beleran said the sailors and marines "are ready to assist and support the government's effort in repatriating our unsung heroes, the OFWs in this Middle East conflict".

Roxas added that the safe arrival of the PN contingent in Oman signified the tangible means of the government's effort to ensure that OFWs will be safely repatriated to the Philippines, aside from showcasing the preparedness of Filipino navy ships in overseas deployment. (PNA)

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Navy's Mideast mission successful despite easing of tensions
By Priam Nepomuceno March 6, 2020, 10:39 am

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095736

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) still considers its deployment to the Middle East a success despite most overseas Filipino workers opted to stay following the easing of tensions in the region.

"Remember, we are only part of this Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Joint Task Force 'Pagpauli' headed by the AFP vice chief-of-staff, Vice Admiral Gaudencio Collado," PN public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas told the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

In February, two PN ships, BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman with the mission of ferrying home OFWs that might be affected by the then looming hostilities between Iran and the United States due to the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani by a US drone strike in Baghdad last January.

The ships left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor on January 13 and after a provisioning and refueling stop in Colombo, Sri Lanka later that month, arrived in Oman by February 5.

"With the 'green light' from the higher headquarters, our Navy able to prepare and execute this mission in a short period of time. We were able to transit the Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca, proceeded for the very first time to Sri Lanka and Oman without any problem encountered. This deployment manifests your advancing Navy that is now capable to provide humanitarian assistance to our fellow 'kababayans' wherever they are in the world," Roxas said.

While it is fortunate that tension in the Middle East subsided and OFWs returned to normal work situations, she added that only the IATF can assess the certainty of the situation.

"It is better for our Navy to be there to serve as a sea-based platform just in case something will happen," Roxas said.

Aside from the crew of the two ships, a PN delegation named Naval Task Force 82, is also aboard the naval vessels.

"So, while waiting for instruction, our Navy put this as an opportunity to promote naval diplomacy in the region and to be an instrument of patriotism for our Filipino citizens who are now in these areas. Through a series of community engagements, we let them develop their sense of pride as a Filipino wherever they see the presence of our PN vessels," she added.

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https://www.facebook.com/philippinenavy/posts/10157420288757956

Navy ships in Oman depart, enroute to India for PPEs

MUSCAT, Oman – Philippine Navy (PN) ships, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602), composing the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 departed Port Sultan Qaboos here today, April 21 and commenced their journey back to Manila upon getting the green light from higher authorities.

The vessels will make brief stop at Port Cochin, India to pick-up personal protective equipment donated by a foreign private company in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense, the government’s agency that is mandated to consolidate all donations to the national government and the Department of Health in this COVID 19 pandemic.

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2 PH Navy ships stranded in India on way home
By: Frances Mangosing - Reporter / @FMangosingINQINQUIRER.net / 08:54 PM May 27, 2020

MANILA, Philippines—Two Philippine Navy vessels delayed in coming home from India by different reasons have already left the port of Cochin, India on Wednesday (May 27) and are on their way to the Philippines.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) were supposed to return home to the Philippines on May 7 yet, after making a short stop in India to pick up stranded tourists and donations of personal protective equipment.

But fire broke out in the main engine room of BRP Ramon Alcaraz five hours after it left the port, forcing it to go back to India along with BRP Davao del Sur.

As the fire-damaged ship was being repaired, BRP Davao del Sur sailed alone on May 9, but a brewing storm, Amphan, forced her to go back to Cochin, India on May 11.

It said the Philippines’ defense cooperation agreement with India allowed Indian authorities to provide help in fixing the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, leading to the repair of the Philippine ship’s main propulsion engine, generators, auxiliary systems and other essential pieces of equipment.

The Philippine Navy statement said the “pandemic situation” made the transport by air of “material support from the US Naval Sea Systems Command” unavailable.

But experts and logistics, the Philippine Navy said, “will be available” at Subic Freeport when the Alcaraz arrives there.

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Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1282033/2-ph-navy-ships-stranded-in-india-on-way-home#ixzz6NisfZ8V0
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The ships have returned home.

https://www.facebook.com/philippinenavy/posts/10157586934607956

Returning Navy contingent marks Independence Day on PH waters

MANILA BAY, Philippines - Sailors and marines composing the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 under the Joint Task Force “Pagpauli” commemorated the 122nd Philippine Independence Day aboard BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) as they entered Manila Bay today after months of journey in the Middle East.

PS16 and LD602 sailed in formation with onboard personnel creating the human formation of figure 122 for a photo exercise captured from the embarked AW109 naval helicopter which also conducted flight deck operations or its take-off and landing on Davao Del Sur's surface while the ship was in motion.