The crew of the former Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, now the Philippine Navy vessel Andres Bonifacio, man the rail of the vessel following its official transfer to the Philippine Navy back on July 21, 2016, during a ceremony held at Coast Guard Base Alameda in Alameda, California. The Boutwell is the third decommissioned Coast Guard cutter to be transferred to the Philippine Navy as part of the Excess Defense Articles program, which offers excess military equipment to U.S. allies in their modernization efforts. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall.
MANILA, Nov. 2 (PNA) – BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), the third Hamilton-class cutter in Philippine Navy (PN) service, departed from California on Nov. 1 (American time) and now headed for home.
“Yes, she (BRP Andres Bonifacio) has left Alameda, California on Nov. 1. She is expected to be home by the second week of December,” PN spokesperson Lued Lincuna in a message to the PNA Wednesday said.
Lincuna said the BRP Andres Bonifacio has a crew of 80 officers and enlisted personnel.
“She will pass by Hawaii and Guam for refueling and provisioning (before heading to the Philippines),” he added.
The USCGC Boutwell was retired from US Coast Guard service last March 16 and handed to the PN last July 21 (American time).
She will be the third Hamilton class cutter in PN service after the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) which were acquired in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
The ship and its Filipino crew is currently docked at the US Coast Guard Base in Alameda, California where they are undergoing on the various systems of the vessel.
This include damage control, gunnery training and emergency drills and evolution.
PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the BRP Andres Bonifacio has a crew of 80 officers and enlisted personnel.
Lincuna said the ship is expected to be in the Philippines by second week of December.
“She will pass by Hawaii and Guam for refueling and provisioning (before heading to the Philippines),” he added.
The USCGC Boutwell was retired from US Coast Guard service last March 16 and handed to the PN last July 21 (American time).
She will be the third Hamilton class cutter in PN service after the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) which were acquired in 2011 and 2013, respectively.