8 September 2015, World News. A U.S company Willard Marine Inc. announced on September 3. that it is going to give four new patrol vessels to the Philippines in November 2015, The vessels will be equipped with gun posts forward and aft, and cabins will include features such as shock-mitigating seats to enhance crew comfort and safety.
A press release by the firm noted that it would provide it with two aluminum, 30 foot patrol boats with twin 480-hp engines and dual water jets, as well as two 34-foot patrol boats with 600-hp engines and dual water jets.
The U.S. State Department had awarded the firm, a contract to supply the patrol vessels fitted for search and rescue operations along the country’s maritime borders to Philippine National Police Maritime Group.
Its the third time that Willard Marine has been awarded a contract to provide military vessels to the Philippines. According to Ulrich Gottschling, the company’s president, the relationship is one that its hopes will continue in the coming years. In 2013, the company supplied a number of 7 m Sea Force 730 rigid-hull inflatable boats to the Philippine Navy under a US Navy Foreign Military Sales program.
Ulrich Gottschling said “We are confident that the Philippine National Police will get tremendous use of their new Willard patrol boats for many years, and we hope to provide them with additional vessels as their mission requirements grow and evolve over time,”.
News Source :- The Diplomat
