Research Vessel: Exploring the Philippine Seas
- museomaritimo
- Aug 23
- 6 min read
August 23, 2025 – Makati City, National Capital Region, Philippines
An article by Santy Floralde
A recent online news article detailed that “two Chinese deep-sea research vessels” – an 87-meter research ship, Tan Suo Er Hao, and a 100-meter Xiang Yang Hong 302 – were spotted roaming within the Philippines’ maritime exclusive economic zone. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, they were carrying out marine scientific research without the necessary authorization from the Philippine government. As this latest information raised concerns over our waters and highlighted an issue against our national sovereignty, a stream of thoughts suddenly popped out of my mind, which led me to ask these pertinent questions:
What is a “research vessel”? Do we even have one? If we do have them, do our research vessels have the technology to conduct state-of-the-art scientific exploration and comprehensive studies in the entire Philippine Sea, which has an area of 679,800 square kilometers, and an EEZ of 2.2 million km2?
Definition
As an ordinary, non-seafaring person who can only recognize a general concept of a boat or a ship, I have a vague idea of what a research vessel is. So, I used the ever-dependable information search engine to learn more. I typed the words “research vessel” into the search bar, and here’s what Google says: “A research vessel is a ship or boat specifically designed or modified to conduct scientific research at sea.” Also, they “serve as mobile laboratories, equipped with specialized instruments and technology to study various aspects of the marine environment, from the ocean floor to the water column.” In addition, “they are crucial for a wide range of scientific disciplines, including marine biology, geology, oceanography, and more.”
Now, we realize what exactly research vessels are and their specific purpose. They do “fulfil an important need of carrying out research at sea. As their titular reference indicates, these ships help in the detailed analyses and studies of the oceanic arena for various purposes.” Not only do they play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the oceans and their vital role in the Earth’s climate and ecosystems, but they also provide the latest status update on our marine resources, such as extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and a wide array of marine life.
Philippines’ Research Vessels
From the sources on the information superhighway, I found out that we indeed have research vessels. Though significantly a small number, it’s still good news!
The first on the list is BRP Gregorio Velasquez, named after a Filipino National Scientist. With pennant number AGR-702, it is considered “the Philippine Navy’s first oceanographic research vessel.” But decades before, it was formerly known as the USNS Melville. As its name suggests, it was named after George Melville, “a pioneer Arctic explorer and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.”
Melville (AGOR 14) “was completed and delivered to the Navy on 1 August 1969.” Having a “2,944 loaded displacement” and “dimensions of 279' X 46' X 16.6'”, it was built with propulsion systems and capabilities. Its “original system was a cycloidal system with propulsion later modified to an advanced system of twin 1,385 hp diesel electric engines driving 1,385 hp Z-Drive Lips with a 900 hp Retractable Azimuthing Thruster, allowing the ship to move 360° under main engines.” And with “a crew of 23 that keeps the ship operational”, it was estimated that “up to 38 scientists can be accommodated for the scientific expedition.” As “the ship reached the end of the life cycle extension of the 1992 service life extension”, it was soon “acquired from the US” and “commissioned to the Philippine Navy” in 2016.”
Today, this research vessel is still used for oceanographic research. Thanks to former U.S. President Barack Obama, who gave it as a gift to the Philippines, this ship significantly contributes to the country’s understanding of its marine environment. Furthermore, BRP Gregorio Velasquez is expected “to provide the Philippine Navy with hydrographic survey and maritime research capabilities.”
The second is a fleet of smaller research vessels operated by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), a research institute located in Bolinao, Pangasinan. According to its official website, these vessels are MV Panata, RV Kalayaan, and RV Mandaragat.
Among the three, MV Panata, with dimensions of 29 meters x 8 meters, “has participated in the largest number of projects and expeditions.” Since 2019, it has begun its voyage in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Visayan Sea, the Tubataha Reef, and the Philippine Rise. On the other hand, RV Kalayaan (dimensions not specified) “is the main vessel used by the Bolinao Marine Laboratory to explore the Pangasinan waters for sample collection and field experiments.” Last but not least, RV Mandaragat (dimensions not specified) “is a specialized boat used primarily to transport the clay dispersal unit that confronts the harmful algal bloom (HAB) phenomena by removing HAB cells.”
Overall, these three vessels are used for coastal and open ocean expeditions and are involved in various research activities, including seismic surveys, oceanographic research, and plastics research.
The Present
It is a fact that our seas are immense in terms of area and depth, and the potential quantity of our marine resources is almost limitless. And for these reasons, there’s a need to explore and study them to advance our nation’s economy and to raise the level of livelihood of our countrymen, especially the aquaculture workers and fishermen. However, we can only do so by having more research vessels and employing more competent and more dedicated men and women, such as seafarers, naval architects, marine engineers and technicians, marine biologists, and oceanographers, who will spend their time studying the seas, and coming up with a scientific way of preventing the enormous impact of overfishing, destructive fishing practices, plastic pollution, and climate change.
But truth must be told. Our research vessels are still not on par with those of China. The former are fewer, older, and smaller in size, while the latter are larger in numbers and dimensions, and not to mention, more technologically advanced. In a worst-case scenario, the Chinese may not only use the information they gathered in Philippine waters for scientific purposes, but the data can also be utilized by their military for submarine navigation!
The Future
Needless to say, there is an impending threat. As more and more Chinese naval and coast guard ships, including their research vessels, are detected within our seas and EEZ, it is clear that there is a continuous violation of our country’s laws. And with the present state of our ships, it is a tremendous challenge for us to explore all the seas in our country.
On the brighter side, there is hope. Just months ago, Cmdr. Susan Quisado, the new Commanding Officer (CO), took charge of BRP Gregorio Velasquez as she was expected “to stir up the ship to even greater achievements.” And just last year, UP MSI acquired additional research vessels “to further improve the country’s capacity for ocean research by co-managing NARFleet.” So, if we could increase the number and size of our research vessels, improve their design, and develop their technology, we can be assured that our waters will be safe and protected against foreign invaders. And if we prevail, soon, we will acquire more knowledge on how to protect and preserve our marine resources for the benefit of the Filipino people.
References:
1. Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio. (2025, May 20). Philippines flags Chinese research vessels in exclusive economic zone. Business World.
2. MI News Network. (2012, November 22). What is a Research Vessel? MarineInsight.com.
3. APG, GMA News. (2016, April 29). Navy commissions newly-acquired research vessel. GMANetwork.com.
4. Priam Nepomuceno. (2019, May 11). BRP Gregorio Velasquez back from 2-month survey mission. Philippine News Agency.
5. UC San Diego. Emerit: R/V Melville. Scripps Oceanography.
6. NHHC. (2015, August 7). Melville II (AGOR-14). Naval History and Heritage Command.
7. Alchetron. (2024, Oct 13). BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR 702). Alchetron.com.
8. UP MSI. Floating Assets. University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.
9. Priam Nepomuceno. (2025, July 29). West Philippine Sea: 23 Chinese ships spotted from July 21-27 – Navy. Inquirer.net.
10. Philippine Fleet (PF). (2025, February 17). New CO takes charge of BRP Gregorio Velasquez. Navy.Mil.Ph.
11. UP MSI. (2024, June 24). UP MSI awarded 2024 Gawad Tsanselor for NARFleet. University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.
I'd like to give a special shout-out to Jessie Petalio, a graduating Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering student from AIMS who recently joined as a contestant in the Bilyonaryo Quiz B game show. In his brief interview with Mr. David Celdran, he revealed that his dream was "to build a research vessel that could maybe navigate the Philippine waters better." Thank you for mentioning "research vessel," which became the topic of this article.