Statement on the fire incident aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16)

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Statement on the fire incident aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16)

https://www.facebook.com/philippinenavy/photos/a.10150348212492956/10157482621552956/?type=3&theater

A fire incident transpired onboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) on Thursday night, May 7, a few hours after it departed Port of Cochin, India for Manila in convoy with BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602).

Initial investigation revealed that the fire broke at the main engine room. The ship’s rapid response team was able to put out the fire in 10 minutes. The incident incurred two personnel casualties and minor equipment damages.

Both sailors sustained second degree burns. The victims are to be airlifted to a naval hospital in Cochin, India for extensive medical attention.

Onboard engineers are now assessing the damage to the ship’s main propulsion system to determine whether they can proceed with their voyage or return to India to conduct necessary repairs.

This unfortunate incident could have been worse if not for the promptness of our PN personnel in responding to the fire incident. We recognize the gallant efforts of our personnel in responding to the emergency situation in spite of the dangers involved. Rest assured that the safety and welfare of our personnel is of paramount importance.

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https://www.facebook.com/navalforceswest/posts/2955171671204347

Updated Statement on the fire incident aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16)

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) was able to return to the Port of Cochin, India unassisted and is currently moored there. It undergoes damage assessment and systems evaluation in connection with the fire that broke out at the main engine room of the vessel with lube oil leakage as the apparent cause. Based on initial assessment, one of its main engines must undergo necessary repair to ensure the sea worthiness of the ship and safety of its crew prior its return voyage to the country.

The vessel will stay put to fully restore its operational status with the assistance of the United States Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Coordination is being made with NAVSEA and JUSMAG Philippines to work out with the repair requirements needed by the ship. PS16 was acquired from the US and still under the technical support program with them. Repair and restoration period is pegged at 21 days in consideration of the restraint due to COVID-19 but it may be shortened.

F2EN (Fireman Second Class Engineman) Alvin Aldecoa, who sustained superficial burn, is recovering in PS16 while F2MR (Fireman Second Class Machinery Repairman) Joemari Bag-o, who suffered second degree burns, was airlifted to a burn treatment facility at the Sanjivani Naval Hospital in INS Southern Naval Command for proper monitoring and medical treatment. Both sailors are in stable condition. Their families were already notified of their situation. All other personnel onboard PS16 are safe and secured.

Courses of action are now being undertaken to identify the extent of damage and its corresponding cost to repair. The ship's extended stay at port for the repair also provides ample time for the recovery of injured sailors, and to complete the hauling of the remaining 800 thousand pieces of donated facemasks.

Meanwhile, BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) continued its voyage back to the Philippines around 2 pm of May 9 with Filipino repatriates and 200,000 pieces of donated face masks. LD602 is expected to arrive at Manila South Harbor on May 23.

The Philippine Navy expresses its gratitude to the Indian Navy and its government for providing the support and assistance needed in this incident.

The swift reaction of our gallant sailors in this emergency situation bespoke professionalism and skill honed through regular training. This incident will not hamper us to do our mandated mission. Rest assured that safety is and always will be the number one priority of the Philippine Navy.

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Repairs on BRP Ramon Alcaraz to be completed May 27: PH Navy
By Priam Nepomuceno  May 21, 2020, 11:56 amShare 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1103505

MANILA – Repairs on the offshore patrol vessel, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), which was forced to return to the Port of Cochin in India after a fire damaged its main engine room as it sailed to the Philippines on May 7, are slated to be completed on May 27.

"So far, they initially (gave an) ETC (estimated time of completion) on May 27 for the repairs of PS-16. There are still no other details," Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, said in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

When asked where the parts needed for the repair of the damaged sections of the vessel came from, Roxas said, "What I have heard, everything was sourced (from) India."

After the repairs, the crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz will conduct sea testing and trials before proceeding home with BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), which was also forced to return to the Port of Cochin to seek shelter from Cyclone Amphan that battered eastern India and neighboring Bangladesh.

"The estimated time of completion of all the repairs aboard PS-16 is on 27 May. Today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday), (it) will already conduct sea trial to test (its) main and auxiliary engines," Navy chief, Vice Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said in a text message.

The BRP Davao Del Sur was earlier projected to reach the Philippines by May 23 after sailing alone on May 9.

"Upon reaching Colombo, Sri Lanka last 11 May, (BRP Davao Del Sur) had to remain at anchor because of weather disturbances that manifested in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. After about two days at anchor and the winds were becoming stronger and the seas rough, (it) sailed back to Cochin Port to seek shelter," he added.

The BRP Davao Del Sur is currently docked at the Port of Cochin anchorage area and will leave with the BRP Ramon Alcaraz on May 27.

The two ships, which composed PN Naval Task Force 82, were deployed to Oman last February as a contingency measure should a large evacuation of overseas Filipino workers be needed following tensions between the United States and Iran.

They sailed from Sultan Qaboos, Oman last April 21 and arrived in India on April 29 to fetch a donation of 200,000 pieces of face mask from a Filipino businessman based in the country, as well as 18 Filipino tourists who were stranded due to the Covid-19 outbreak. (PNA)

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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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She's 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.