BRP Lake Caliraya

History
Philippines
NameMT PNOC Lapu-Lapu
OperatorPNOC Shipping and Transport Corp.
BuilderTaizhou Zhongxing Shipyard, China[1]
Launched2007
CompletedNovember 2007
CommissionedJanuary 2008
Decommissioned2014
FateTransferred to Philippine Navy
History
Philippines
NameBRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81)
NamesakeLake Caliraya, a man-made lake in Laguna province, Philippines[2]
OperatorPhilippine Navy
Acquired26 March 2014
Commissioned23 May 2015
Decommissioned17 December 2020
Identification
FateSunk as target, 8 May 2024
StatusDecommissioned
General characteristics
TypeSmall Replenishment Tanker
Length98.95 m (324.6 ft)[3]
Beam15.62 m (51.2 ft)[3]
Draft4.6 m (15 ft)[3]
Sensors and
processing systems		Furuno navigation radars

The BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81) was a Philippine Navy small replenishment tanker. The ship was formerly a double-hulled oil products tanker of the now defunct Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) Shipping and Transport Corporation,[3] and was donated to the Philippine Navy in 2014[4] together with two other tankers of the company. The ship was the only Chinese-made naval asset of the Philippine Navy during its time in service.

The ship had a deadweight of 4,570 tons.[3] It was a single product replenishment platform that has a depot-to-ship, ship-to-depot, and a ship-to-ship refueling capabilities. The ship was crewed by selected officers of the Sealift Amphibious Force.[2]

On 17 December 2020, BRP Lake Caliraya was decommissioned alongside a naval helicopter and sixteen patrol boats.[5][6] The ship has been identified as having numerous mechanical and electrical deficiencies, rendering repairs and additional work impractical.[6]

The ship, slated as a target for a sinking exercise on July 13 as part of Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 2023, ran aground in Bataan province. Philippine and US Marines intended to sink it off Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui but it ran aground en route to Subic, Zambales.[7] Inclement weather prompted the cancellation of the sinking exercise, however the Marine Aviation Support Activity still continued until July 21.[8]

On 8 May 2024, the ship was used as a target for the maritime strike exercise as part of the Balikatan military drills. Missiles and other ammunitions from Philippine and U.S. forces hit the target ship during the activity. It sank around 10:49 a.m. at about 15 kilometers off Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Province.[9]

References

  1. ^ "PNOC LAPU LAPU - 9481740 - OIL PRODUCTS TANKER". maritime-connector.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  2. ^ a b "Navy replenishment capability gets boost with BRP Lake Caliraya". DWDD 1134. 2015-05-25. Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e "PNOC Lapu Lapu". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  4. ^ "Philippine Navy adds first oil tanker to fleet". The Philippine Star. 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  5. ^ "'Made in China' ship as mock target in Balikatan unintentional—PH Navy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Philippine Navy Decommissions and Deactivates Legacy Ships and Aircraft". The Philippine Fleet FB Page. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Target ship en route to PH-US military maneuvers runs aground in Bataan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. ^ "US, PH Marines cancel military exercise due to monsoon rains". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. ^ "US, PH begin striking 'Made in China' mock target ship near Taiwan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 8 May 2024.