03/10/2026
THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD HAS A NEW ADDITION TO ITS FLEET.
The BRP SARANGANI (6177) was formally commissioned into Philippine Coast Guard service. This follows its turnover to the PCG last September 21, 2026.
What makes this acquisition particularly notable is that the fully refurbished vessel was acquired by the WPS Foundation, a non-government organization.
The donation and transfer of the vessel to the Philippines came after months of coordination between the WPS Foundation, the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines. The vessel was made available for donation to a non-government organization, allowing the WPS Foundation to facilitate its eventual transfer to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The BRP SARANGANI (6177) is the former KINMEN (CG123) of the Taiwan Coast Guard. It belongs to Taiwan's 500-ton-class rescue and patrol vessel family, measuring approximately 61 meters (200 feet) in length and 11.7 meters in beam, with a full displacement of nearly 700 tons.
The KINMEN was in service to the Taiwan Coast Guard for 15 years, commissioned into Taiwanese service only in 2008 before being retired in 2023.
Four vessels of this class were built, with two eventually retired from Taiwan Coast Guard service in 2023. One of these has now found a new home with the Philippine Coast Guard as BRP Sarangani.
And the transfer of KINMEN may only be the beginning.
The successful coordination that brought BRP Sarangani to the Philippines could potentially open the door for additional retired Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels to be transferred through similar arrangements.
Bons Cue Ph would not rule out the possibility of KINMEN's sister ship, the LIENCHIANG (CG125), which was also retired in 2023, eventually becoming part of a future transfer of patrol vessels from Taiwan.
For a Philippine Coast Guard facing an increasingly demanding maritime security mission, every additional capable hull matters, especially when it can be acquired and refurbished without directly burdening the Philippine government's acquisition budget.
We would like to acknowledge the WPS Foundation and the Philippine Coast Guard for the photos.