Former Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell delivered to the Philippine NavyJul 21st, 2016 · Comments Off on Former Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell delivered to the Philippine Navy
http://coastguardnews.com/former-coast-guard-cutter-boutwell-delivered-to-the-philippine-navy/2016/07/21/ALAMEDA, Calif. – A ceremony Thursday at Coast Guard Base Alameda authorized the transfer of a third decommissioned Coast Guard cutter to the Philippine Navy as part of the Excess Defense Articles program.
Rear Adm. Joseph M. Vojvodich, the Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer, the presiding official, and Rear Adm. Bayani Gaerlan, Commander Philippine Fleet, both signed the transfer documents that officially released the Coast Guard cutter to the Philippine government.
The former San-Diego based Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell was christened into Philippine frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio prior to the ceremonial crew swap.
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US Coast Guard ship turned over to PH in Alameda, Calif.By: Jun Nucum
@inquirerdotnet
INQUIRER.net US Bureau
02:04 AM July 30th, 2016
ALAMEDA, California — A third ship decommissioned by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) was turned over July 21 to the Philippine Navy at the Coast Guard Island here, the third ship delivered in five years through the excess defense article (EDA) program of the United States Armed Forces.
United States Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell (also known as high endurance cutter WHEC 719) was formally decommissioned by USCG officials on March 2016 in San Diego, California “after 48 years of distinguished service to the United States Coast Guard entered the fleet in 1968 … and (is now) transferred to the Philippine Navy,” according to Rear Admiral Joseph M. Vojvodich, the Coast Guard’s assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer.
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Now BRP Andres Bonifacio
After the turnover, USCGC Boutwell was named Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Andres Bonifacio and commissioned immediately.
Ex-US Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell was renamed Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Andres Bonifacio after it was turned over in simple ceremonies in Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. JUN NUCUM
Boutwell is the third ship handed over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines the two other decommissioned cutters, the San Diego-based USCGC WHEC-715 ex-Hamilton (BRP Gregorio del Pilar) and Charleston, South Carolina-based USCGC ex-Dallas (WHEC-716) now known as BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
In accepting the ship, Commander Philippine Fleet Rear Admiral Bayani Gaerlan stated that, through the EDA program, these U.S. assets will continue to strengthen and boost the Philippine Navy’s posture and credibility addressing, alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines, security concerns such as territorial integrity, maritime security, natural and man-made disasters and even internal security.
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