Taiwan-donated patrol vessel handed to Philippine Coast Guard: Source

Manila, Sept. 22 (CNA) The decommissioned 500-tonne patrol vessel Kinmen (CG-123) recently donated by Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has been delivered to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), a source told CNA on Tuesday.

The source said the vessel transferred to the PCG at a ceremony organized by the Philippine Non-government WPS Foundation on Monday was donated by the CGA.

The CGA confirmed the donation last Wednesday following a United Daily News (UDN) report of a Philippine law enforcement vessel registered as "BLINGNO.1" setting sail for sea trials from Kaohsiung Port that day, citing tracking data from VesselFinder.

While UDN visually identified the vessel as the retired 500-tonne Lienchiang (CG-125), the CGA withheld ship specifications and did not name the recipient at the time.

The WPS Foundation issued a statement on Monday regarding the handover ceremony, but omitted any mention of the ship's origin.

"With the completion of the necessary legal, administrative, and technical requirements, the vessel is now under the custody of the PCG for civilian maritime purposes," it said.

Jeffrey Ordaniel, president and CEO of the WPS Foundation, was quoted as saying that the donation aimed to save lives, protect the nation's seas, and build PCG capacity to serve Filipino fishermen, mariners and coastal communities.

Philippine defense and security platform MaxDefense reported on Tuesday that the ship appeared to have been acquired by the WPS Foundation before being handed over to the PCG to avoid potential diplomatic and legal friction.