The ''Ilocos Norte''-class patrol boat is a series of four vessels in active service of the Philippine Coast Guard. Their hull number prefix "SARV" means they are classified as "''search and rescue vessels''".

Design and construction

The ''Ilocos Norte'' class is a , all-aluminium patrol boat designed by Tenix Shipbuilding in Australia, based on the company's Pacific-class patrol boat.* Four vessels were delivered to the Philippine Coast Guard in December 2001. An option for a follow on order of ten more ships was offered by Tenix, but not used by the Philippine Coast Guard. Tenix reused the ''Ilocos Norte'' design in 2008 for the New South Wales Police Force patrol vessel OPV Nemesis, ''Nemesis''; the largest police-operated patrol boat in the Southern Hermisphere.

Operational history

On December 24, 2009, BRP ''Nueva Vizcaya'' (SARV 3502), along with BRP ''Pampanga'' (SARV 003)and MT Tug ''Habaga'' (TB-271), was deployed to Cavite to conduct search and rescue operations when MV Catalyn B'', a wooden hull motorized vessel collided with the fishing vessel FV ''Anatalia'' and sank northwest of Limbones Island at 2:25 a.m. Thursday. On April 8, 2013, BRP ''Romblon'' (SARV 3503) was deployed when a Chinese fishing vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reef. ''Romblon'' assisted with removing the ship's cargo and fuel.

Ships in class

Gallery

File:BPR Nueva Vizcaya 2.jpg, (SARV-3502) BRP ''Nueva Vizcaya'' File:BRP 3503 - Romblon.jpg, (SARV-3503) BRP ''Romblon'' File:BRP 3504 - Davao Del Norte.jpg, (SARV-3504) BRP ''Davao Del Norte''

References

{{Philippine Coast Guard ships Patrol vessels of the Philippines Naval ships of the Philippines Auxiliary search and rescue ship classes Patrol boat classes