The Philippines has secured a significant agreement with French shipbuilder OCEA for the procurement of 40 fast patrol boats (FPBs) tailored for the Philippine Coast Guard. This deal hinges on OCEA’s proprietary FPB 110 MK 2 design, which will also include integrated logistics support and maintenance services for the provided fleet.
This latest acquisition adds to the existing maritime resources of the Philippine Coast Guard, which already received five systems from OCEA between 2017 and 2020. Notably, among these deliveries was the 84-meter BRP Gabriela Silang, marking the Philippines’ first large offshore patrol vessel produced for its coast guard operations.
OCEA emphasized that the agreement underscores the cooperation between France and the Philippines, a partnership aimed at enhancing the latter’s maritime security amid escalating regional threats. The commitment by Paris to fund the patrol project was announced last November, with the total value of the fleet amounting to approximately 25.8 billion Philippine pesos ($465.7 million).
In a move to ensure sustained capability, the Philippine government also contracted OCEA in April 2025 for a five-year in-service sustainment support program for each vessel previously delivered. This strategic relationship highlights OCEA’s established presence in the Philippines since 2019, when the company set up a hub operational center, which now employs 20 Filipinos skilled in fleet maintenance and logistics.
The FPB 110 system is designed to meet critical maritime operational needs, featuring 10 percent dedicated space allocated for a deployable rigid-hull inflatable boat, along with another 10 percent designated for a free deck area. Additionally, these vessels are engineered to be interoperable with specific multi-domain autonomous systems and equipped with communication devices that facilitate the use of both lethal and non-lethal weapons.
Each vessel in the FPB 110-class measures 35 meters (approximately 115 feet) and can accommodate up to 17 personnel. They are driven by two diesel engines paired with two generators, allowing the boats to achieve a top speed of 35 knots (65 kilometers or 40 miles per hour) and to cover a range of 700 nautical miles (or roughly 1,296 kilometers/806 miles).
With this agreement, the Philippine Coast Guard is poised to enhance its operational effectiveness and readiness in safeguarding the maritime interests of the nation.
