by Gordon Arthur
The Philippine Navy’s (PN) first Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) was hit by a Liberian-registered tanker in waters off Zamboanga City on 19 September.
At the time, the 7,200t BRP Tarlac, the navy’s largest ever vessel, was acting as a floating command-and-control platform for operations being conducted against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the southern Philippines.
Anchored 1,000 yards south of a pier at Naval Station Romulo, the merchant tanker Tasco collided with the SSV. RAdm Jorge Amba, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said no crew were hurt, but that the naval vessel suffered ‘minor damage in the right forward bulwark and side ramp’.
Damage was considered minor enough to allow BRP Tarlac to continue operations, and it will be repaired in its next scheduled maintenance cycle. Capt Lued Lincuna, the PN spokesperson, noted that the ‘minor dents on her starboard side because of the incident…will not affect her role in said operations’.
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