MANILA, Philippines — After running aground in August 2018 while on a patrol mission, the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS15) is set to go back to the seas following years of repairs.
BRP Gregorio del Pilar is now “ready-for-sea” and is now on the way to her designated area of operations, the agency said on Monday. The ship “satisfactorily passed all tests” during its operational readiness evaluation facilitated by the navy’s Fleet Operational Readiness Training and Evaluation Group earlier this month, it added.
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It is one of the Hamilton-class cutters the navy acquired from the US Coast Guard in 2011 and has since been converted into frigates.
In 2018, the ship run aground near the Hasa-Hasa Shoal in the West Philippine Sea and on the eastern edge of the disputed Spratly islands, an area which China claims to be part of its territory as it continues to ignore a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidates Beijing's so-called nine-dash line on the waters.
BRP Gregorio del Pilar was conducting its regular patrol operation when its starboard, or the right part of the ship, hit a submerged land feature in the area. There were no reported casualties or injuries due to the incident.
China reportedly offered to help retrieving the ship but Philippine defense and military officials declined as they said the country is well-equiped to respond to the incident.
READ: China Coast Guard ship spotted near grounded BRP Del Pilar
The Philippine Navy was able to retrieve the ship days after it run aground and was brought to Subic bay for repair. — Kaycee Valmonte with reports from Patricia Lourdes Viray and The STAR/Jaime Laude