By: People’s Tonight, Victor Baldemor Ruiz
THE Philippine Navy will capacitate their needed offshore fighting capability with the reactivation of three refurbished signature multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) .
A consistent government ally in its maritime defense modernization, Propmech Corporation a trusted Filipino Shipbuilder presented to Defense Press Corps three refurbished MPACs at Safehull Marine Technologies, Inc. on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Global Industrial Park of Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.
These MPAC’s undergo repair, preventive maintenance and upgrading according to the Philippine Navy requirements and specification.
Propmech President and CEO Glenn Paul Tong and Linus Jose V. Tiu
Propmech Corporation Marketing Head, disclosed that the Philippine Navy commissioned Safehull, maker of MPAC, to refurbish three units of these reliable and versatile fast attack vessels last year.
This battle tested MPACs had racked up hundreds of mission hours—from combat, including counterterrorism and territorial defense, to rescue and logistics operations are very reliable and comparable with other shipbuilding companies .
Safehull designs, repairs and maintains sea vessels used for defense, civilian and commercial purposes. These include landing craft utilities like the BRP Tagbanua of the Philippine Navy, the largest Philippine-made naval vessel; the high-speed tactical watercraft of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group; the fast boats of the Philippine Marines; and the aluminum patrol boats of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Safehull also builds civilian and commercial-type boats, including serviced yachts, shipping boats and commercial passenger vessels.
It can be recalled that Propmech Corporation a marine solution provider declared that they are ready to support the Philippines’ Plan to Become the “Maritime Capital of the World”
Propmech Corporation, a long long-standing supporter of the Philippine government’s effort to improve its maritime defense capabilities is ready to support this initiative with its extensive experience, network, expertise, and infrastructure.
It was learned that Department of Transportation was planning to modernize domestic shipping, expanding of shipbuilding and repair capabilities, and development of a marine industrial park, marine environment protection, the development of inland waterway networks, and corrective actions on multiple levels to address the assessment findings from the European Commission and the independent evaluators of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
And Propmech Corporation was eager and ready to support this ambitious plan with its proven track record of supporting the Philippine Armed Forces, including the Navy, Coast Guard, Marines as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP), through the development and maintenance vessels used in various missions.
Some of the vessels include the LCU (Landing Utility Craft), a vessel designed for moving troops, vehicles, and equipment to far flung areas; the PNP and Marine high-speed attack crafts, Coast Guard aluminum patrol boats to name a few.
One of Propmech Corporation’s signature vessels is the Philippine Navy’s MPAC (Multi Purpose Attack Craft). The first batch of MPACs was commissioned and introduced to service last April 2009. Since then the MPACs has racked up hundreds of mission hours ranging from rescue to logistics to combat, and has undergone several iterations to date. Acting on the Navy’s feedback from several missions, Propmech was able to continuously improve each MPAC model. Today, there are three models of the MPAC under its fleet in service to the Philippine Navy. The MPAC has proven to be a reliable and versatile vessel in various applications, including counterterrorism and territorial defense.
“Our commitment to supporting the Philippine government’s efforts to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities remains steadfast. We are ready to contribute our expertise and resources to help make the Philippines the ‘Maritime Capital of the World,’” said Glenn Tong, Director of Propmech Corporation.