BRP Ramon Alcaraz undergoing repairs in India

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz was moored and undergoing damage assessment and systems evaluation at the Port of Cochin in India after a fire broke out in its main engine room on Thursday, the Philippine Navy said Sunday.

In a statement, Philippine Navy Public Affairs Acting Director Maria Christina Roxas said based on initial assessment, one of the ship’s main engines needed to be repaired to “ensure the sea worthiness of the ship and safety of its crew” prior to its return to the country.

She added the incident was due to “apparent” oil leakage.

Roxas said the ship, which was acquired from the US, would remain in India until it was fully restored to operational status with the assistance of the United States Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The ship was still under the technical support program of the US.

Repair and restoration period would likely take 21 days due to restraints caused by COVID-19, Roxas added.

“Coordination is being made with NAVSEA and JUSMAG Philippines to workout with the repair requirements needed by the ship,” she said.

Fireman Second Class Engineman Alvin Adecoa, who sustained superficial burns, was recovering inside the ship, while Fireman Second Class Machinery Repairman Joemari-Bag-o, who suffered second-degree burns, was airlifted to a burn treatment facility at the Sanjivani Naval Hospital in INS Southern Naval Command for proper medical treatment.

Roxas said both sailors were in stable condition, while all other personnel onboard the ship were safe and secure.

She added that courses of action were being taken to identify the extent of the damage and the cost of repair.

“The ship’s extended stay at port for the repair also provides ample time for the recovery of injured sailors and to complete the hauling of the remaining 800,000 pieces of donated masks,” Roxas said.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao del Sur left India on Thursday after completing their mission to fetch 18 Filipino tourist-repatriates as well as donated face masks.

The BRP Davao del Sur, which continued its voyage back to the Philippines with the Filipino repatriates and 200,000donated face masks, was expected to arrive at the Manila South Harbor on May 23.

The Philippine Navy also thanked the Indian Navy and its government for providing assistance to the Filipino sailors.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Department of National Defense would use existing diplomatic mechanisms and the defense cooperation agreement with India to facilitate and expedite work on the ship so that it can return to the Philippines in the shortest time possible.  — DVM, GMA News