Transportation Secretary Tugade Inspects 4 Brand New French Boats for Ph Coast Guard

OCEA CEO Roland Joassard gives Secretary Arthur Tugade a tour of the OCEA shipyard in Sables d'Olonne, France

04 April 2017 LES SABLES D’OLONNE – Philippine Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade visited the shipyard of French boat manufacturer OCEA in Sables d’Olonne, France on April 01 to inspect four brand new 24-meter fast patrol boats (FPV 72 MKII) purchased by the Philippine government for the Philippine Coast Guard.

The boats are part of the Philippine Ports and Coast Capability Development Contract signed between the Department of Transportation and OCEA on September 09, 2014 to modernize the Coast Guard’s fleet.

Aside from the four fast patrol boats, the contract also includes a brand new 82-meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV 270 MKII), five-year preventive maintenance for all five boats, spare parts for five years, and technical assistance and training for the crew.

During the discussions with OCEA CEO Roland Joassard, Secretary Tugade also discussed positioning the Philippines as a regional hub for ship repair and how OCEA could play a role in achieving this goal, being a supplier of patrol boats to other countries in the region.

Mr. Joassard promised to assist the Philippines in this endeavor and extended verbal commitment to sign an agreement to this effect before the end of 2017.

The Philippine delegation included Philippine Ambassador to France Ms. Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Philippine Coast Guard OIC Commodore Joel Garcia, BCDA President, and CEO Vivencio Dizon, Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez and Consul Rapunzel Acop. END