BRP Gregorio Velasquez
USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) underway off Bay City, Michigan, 9 July 1969 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Melville (1968-2016) |
| Namesake | George Wallace Melville, a noted Arctic explorer and Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering from 1887 to 1903 |
| Builder | Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan |
| Laid down | 12 July 1967 |
| Launched | 10 July 1968 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Elford A. Cederberg |
| Acquired | by the U.S. Navy 1 August 1969, as USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) |
| In service | 1969, for operation as R/V Melville by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California |
| Homeport | La Jolla, California |
| Fate | Transferred to Philippines 29 April 2016 |
| Notes |
|
| History | |
|---|---|
| Philippines | |
| Name | Gregorio Velasquez (2016-present) |
| Namesake | Gregorio Velasquez |
| Acquired | by the Philippine Navy 28 April 2016 |
| Recommissioned | 28 April 2016 |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Robert D. Conrad-class oceanographic research ship |
| Tonnage | 2,516 tons (7,125 m³) |
| Displacement | 2,944 long tons (2,991 t) |
| Length | 279 feet (85 m) |
| Beam | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Draft | 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) (maximum) |
| Propulsion | two 1,385 hp Propulsion General Electric motors, Bow Thruster: 900 hp retractable Azimuth-compensating bow thruster, Two 1385 hp Z-Drive Lips propellers |
| Speed | Cruising: 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h); Maximum: 14 knots (26 km/h); Minimum: variable to 0, any direction |
| Range | Range: 10,061 nmi (18,633 km; 11,578 mi) at 11.7 knots (fuel) |
| Endurance | 40 days at 11.7 knots (fuel) |
| Capacity | Water Capacity: 15,900 gallons (60,200 L) |
| Complement | 23 civilian mariners, 38 scientists |
| Armament | none |
| Notes | Fuel consumption: 3,600 gallons per day (13,600 L/d) (transit) |
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BRP Gregorio Velasquez is Philippine Navy's first oceanographic research vessel. It was built by the United States Navy as USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) for university support of Navy programs. The ship was operated as the research vessel R/V Melville by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for oceanographic research. As the R/V Melville, it was the oldest active vessel in the academic research fleet, collectively known as the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) (UNOLS). The US Government confirmed on 17 November 2015 that the Melville was to be transferred to the Philippine Navy as Excess Defense Articles (EDA)s. The vessel was officially transferred to the Philippines on 28 April 2016 and was commissioned into active service at the same time with the Philippine Navy.