Parola-class patrol vessel

The Parola-class patrol vessels are an upcoming ship class for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the ships is an development version of the Japan Coast Guard's Bizan-class patrol vessel.

The ships will be named after primary lighthouses in the Philippines, with the Tagalog word "Parola" meaning "lighthouse" in English. The lead ship, BRP Tubbataha, is named after a major lighthouse situated in the Tubbataha Marine National Park in Palawan. Parola-class patrol vessels are officially classified as Multi-role Response Vessels (MRRV).

Project planning and funding
The ships, a based on the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard" project of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan. JICA will provide Php 7,373,700,000.00, while the Philippine government will shoulder Php 1,434,000,000.00 of the entire project value.

Japanese shipbuilders were shortlisted by the DOTC, among them Japan Marine United Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Nigata Shipbuilding and Repair Inc., and Sumidagawa Shipyard Co. Inc.

Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) won the tender against other Japanese shipbuilders with a bid price of Y12,790,000,000 (Php 4,600,000,000.00).

Under the project terms, the MRRVs will be used by the PCG for the following purposes:


 * Primary rescue vessels within the PCG Districts’ areas of responsibility (AOR) when the extent of the disaster is beyond the capability of floating assets deployed within the area
 * Assistance in the control of oil pollution and protection of the marine environment
 * Enforcement of applicable maritime laws within the designated AOR, particularly relating to illegal fishing and sea patrol
 * Service as platform for rapid response during relief operations in the area
 * Transport of personnel and logistical support.

Design and features
The Philippine Coast Guard clarified that the ships are designed for law enforcement duties, to conduct environmental and humanitarian missions, as well as maritime security operations and patrol missions.

The ships are designed with a bulletproof navigation bridge, and is equipped with fire monitors, night vision capability, a work boat, and radio direction finder capability.

The ships are equipped with communications and radio monitoring equipment from Rohde & Schwarz, specifically the M3SR Series 4400 and Series 4100 software-defined communication radios, and DDF205 radio monitoring equipment. These equipment enhances the ship's reconnaissance, pursuit and communications capabilities.

Keel laying and launching
The first of its class, BRP Tubbataha (4401), held its keel laying ceremony on 6 February 2016, and was launched on 12 May 2016.

BRP Tubbataha was scheduled to undergo sea trials by June 2016, sail for Manila by August 11, 2016, and was delivered to the Philippine Coast Guard by September 2016. The ship was commissioned with the Philippine Coast Guard on October 12, 2016.

Construction on the second ship of the class began in December 2015, with its keel laid on 13 May 2016. The ship was launched on October 4, 2016, and was commissioned by the PCG on December 22, 2016.