SUBIC BAY FREEPORT (Feb. 25) — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has acquired a P3.5-million patrol boat to increase its police visibility in the bay area and strengthen its coastal monitoring and water rescue capabilities.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who inspected the just-delivered watercraft on Monday, said it will be used by the SBMA Harbor Patrol to ward off illegal activities on Subic Bay.

Subic Bay, which hosts several maritime-based businesses in cargo handling, shipping, boat-building and tourism, stretches from the coast of Subic, Zambales to Morong, Bataan.

Eisma said the new vessel, which was named Sea Horse 1, is the fifth and largest watercraft procured for the SBMA Harbor Patrol. Four smaller boats are currently being used to patrol areas within Subic Bay.

“This (acquisition) is one big step forward in our thrust to safeguard the waters of Subic Bay and to keep the community secure,” eisma said on Monday.

“We will keep on strengthening our security capability with a sustained program for assets buildup,” she added.

The new boat is a 32-feet watercraft manufactured by the Stoneworks Specialist International Corp., a Cavite-based firm with more than 20 years’ experience in boatbuilding.

SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) manager Vicente Tolentino said it is powered by two 150-horsepower engines capable of pushing its speed to up to 16 nautical miles per hour.

The vessel is also ideal for water rescue as it can easily accommodate 20 persons and can hold four sets of scuba gears, Tolentino added.

The boat will undergo sea trial this week, and would be formally launched by the SBMA chairman following the sea trial.