Hi-speed craft to enhance 

Maritime law enforcement 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 7 (PIA)—If then, illegal fishers still find in the government’s dragnet some holes big enough for them to slip through, that may not be the case anymore. 

Maritime police master sergeant Noel Avenido said they are now waiting for the arrival of their newest asset, one they hope would be fast enough to hook illegal fishers especially those commercial fishers poaching in municipal waters or simply blast fishers and cyanide fishers whose activities cause more ruined corals and leaves patched of dead seas. 

The Maritime Police, or more formally the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG) is one of the twelve National Operational Support Unit (NOSU) of the Philippine National Police, and they are mandated to perform all police functions over Philippine territorial waters, lakes and rivers, coastal areas to include ports and harbors and small islands for the security and the sustainable development of the maritime environment in the Philippines. 

At the Kapihan sa PIA for May as the Month of the Ocean, PMsgt Avenido said the asset: a high speed tactical water craft is among the 22 of such kind which the PNP acquired for its maritime law enforcement functions. 

Of the 22 high speed water crafts, Bohol is lucky to have one, the only one in Central Visayas, Msgt Avenido said. 

At the same radio forum aired over DyTR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Marcial Ugay shared that the celebration is to put a reminder to communities about the importance of protecting the seas as our livelihood and food source. 

The call of greed and selfishness however has pushed people to abuse the resources that outside of the well-guarded marine protected areas here, poachers and illegal fishers are having their heydays. 

As the maritime police are mandated to perform all police functions and ensure public safety and internal security over Philippine territorial waters and rivers including ports of entry and exit as well as sustain the protection of the maritime environment. 

What used to be efforts of maritime law enforcement officers pitiful is that when the efforts of the maritime police are beyond question, lack or inability of police floating assets often dampen the enthusiasm of several environment deputies. 

This new water craft however, is way too far from the wood and bamboo crafts outfitted with cumbersome diesel engines. 

According to Msgt Avenido, the new 40 feet shallow draft high-speed craft has a top speed of 50 knots and sits 12 but can carry as much as 20 personnel, its speed through the three 250 horsepower Honda outboard engines. 

When maritime law enforcers in eastern Bohol have been shot at, engaging in this watercraft is practically suicide. 

Avenido said the watercrafts would be mounted with two aft mounts for 7.62 mm light machine guns, forward gun mount for .50 caliber machine gun, and features console mounted Global Positioning System, magnetic compass, radar with GPS plotter, Very High Frequency/ ultra high frequency mobile and handheld radio. 

When illegal fishers often escape marine law enforcers by skirting through the shallows and squeezing through fish corrals installed in reefs, this light craft could be their nightmare. 

The new asset would be, as specified in the Police resolution for the tactical water craft, suppliers have complied with the shallow draft highly maneuverable craft that can go as fast as 70 kilometers per hour. 

And yes, as to fuel consumption, which has been topping the sustainability of the operations issue, this water craft can use some 1.7 liters of gasoline for every nautical mile per engine as specified in the police resolution guiding bidders. 

Over all, with three engines at full speed, the watercraft consumes 5.1 liters of fuel for every nautical mile during high speed chases, its fuel tank capacity is 2,100 liters. 

And when poachers think, evading this high speed watercraft is simple, the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas District has also it its assets a Cessna turbo propeller Islander for similar patrol and maritime law enforcement functions, authorities at the District Office bared. 

This is also in complement to the multi-role response vessels, aluminum boats, coastal law enforcement patrol boats, auxiliary coast guard sea assets and fish wardens and fisherfolks acting as maritime law enforcement force multipliers. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

SOON TO BE ARMED TO THE TEETH. PNP Maritime groups in Bohol awaits the arrival of the 40 foot high speed watercraft which would take the long journey from Zambales, where they are made, to Bohol, said PMSGT Noel Avenido at the Kapihan sa PIA. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)