Helicopter gunship to guard Malampaya gas project

Helicopter gunship to guard Malampaya gas project
Posted: 6:30 PM | Apr. 03, 2005

http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_br...04&dd=03&file=1

Nikko Dizon
Inquirer News Service

THE PHILIPPINE Air Force (PAF) said Sunday it was set to deploy a S-76A Sikorsky helicopter gunship to secure the Malampaya Natural Gas-to-Power project in Palawan from possible terrorist attacks.

"The increasing threat of terrorism has convinced defense officials that major national flagships projects, like the natural gas project in Malampaya, are targets and vulnerable to terrorist attacks," a statement from the Air Force said Sunday.

"It was therefore necessary to deploy a twin-engine rotary aircraft which [has] both the speed and endurance to conduct offshore patrol operations-able to land on a rig, patrol its vicinity, and return to a forward operating base in the Palawan mainland. The versatility offered by the S-76A convinced Air Force headquarters to focus its resources on fulfilling this mission requirement," the statement added.

Terrorist "divers" may blow up the oilrig also.

The Navy SWAG is most needed there.

siguradong may swag at marines na dun

For sure its is covered. The request for a gunship indicates that anti-terrorism measures is emplaced.

Floating rigs such as this is covered by the ISPS Code implemented by the IMO since July 2004 of which the Philippines is a signatory

"Conference resolution 7 (Establishment of appropriate measures to enhance the security of ships, port facilities, mobile offshore drilling units on location and fixed and floating platforms not covered by chapter XI-2 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention) invites Contracting Governments to establish, as they might consider necessary, appropriate measures to enhance the security of ships and of port facilities other than those covered by chapter XI-2 of the Convention; it also encourages Contracting Governments to establish and disseminate, in an appropriate manner, information to facilitate contact and liaison between company and ship security officers and the authorities responsible for the security of port facilities not covered by Chapter XI-2, prior to a ship entering, or anchoring off, such a port;"

http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?...583&doc_id=2689

Projects like this normally employs Foreign Consultants and part of its planning always covers security. They have their own equipments and security measures as well as MOAs for assistance and support with gov't agencies.

if the shell oil multinational is still involve in the project then rest assured that they have among the best security personnel, they are fomer british SAS and australian SASR and european commandos

Latest news is that the security is being stepped up due to new but yet unannounced exploration and discovery of more natural gas wells aside from the US$4.5 Billion previously discovered in Malampaya.

It appears that Shell is confident that more natural gas wells abound in the area.

At present 3000 megawatts of power and energy is being funneled by submarine pipelines to batangas.

Shell is also proposing a security package in addition to those already deployed by the PAF, PMC and PN.

There is a problem, however, due to the alleged shennanigans of the expelled ex Energy Sec, Vincente Perez. DOE officials have been going the rounds explaining the irregularities committed by Perez while in office such as entering into a production contract with KEPCO or Korean Electric without the approval of the cabinet and the President. KEPCO and perez are trying to pull the rug from under Shell and corner the production aspect of the natural gas facility. Perez has been known to have been lavishly entertaining the Korean KEPCO people in his island off Coron in Palawan. DOE USEC Abuyan was interviewed by Rene Sta. Cruz on prime time radio and the latter was very jubilant in the interview which depicted Perez as a corrupt official.

In other areas, some quarters are questioning the tripartie pact between RP, PROC and Vietnam for joint exploration of the Spratlys. It appears that the exploration areas initially agreed upon are still within the 200 mile economic zone of the Philippines. If oil or other fuels and gases are discovered and mined, will the Philippines share the find with the two countries? Probably the administration is merely playing politics by playingg off China and the USA. But without a credible external defense position, RP cannot enforce its sovereignty.

what kind of radar coverage does the Malampaya area get?

they really ought to install mm wave surface search radar so they would be able to detect a vessel as small as an outrigger or kayak...

I went diving in Dos Palmas, Palawan this summer. We stayed in one of the Rico Yan garden cottages. Since re-opening after the kidnapping incident, the resort has beefed up it's security and defense capability including marine surface radar. The island's security are instructed to fire warning shots, and engage unidentified surface craft approaching within a certain radius at night. The security forces on the island today include a platoon of CAFGUs in addition to the regular security force. Well armed, well trained and led by a former navy LCDR, 1988 Academy grad who spent 10 years with the SEALs.

Am I sounding like a product endorser for the resort. Hahaha.

This post has been edited by Pendejo on Apr 13 2005, 12:53 PM

Aba! plus the LCDR is getting free nooners with the hot guests? Life is good!

On duty



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search

Nice shot. Cool

Ang ganda ng chopper! atin ba talaga iyan


it looks new, parang helicopter ng isang first world country, mukhang hindi third world air force

It's a VIP chopper, one of those assigned to the President and transferrred to were it is more needed. Upkeep is said to be done by the Dept. of Energy.

2 of these were destroyed by NPA attacks and another 2 lost during coups and another 1 lost in a film shooting.

http://www.hueybravo.net/Airforcepage/s-76....htm#Write-Offs

There are two of these gunships assigned to the Malampaya natural gas region. The rest of the flyable ones are flown by the 505 ARG. They are valued for their overwater safety.