MV Amazing Grace, the humanitarian vessel donated by Philippine Red Cross to the Philippine Coast Guard. Facebook/Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will now have a large humanitarian vessel in its fleet with the donation by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday of the 55-meter M/V Amazing Grace.

Adm. Ronnie Gavan — PCG commandant — and PRC Chairman Richard Gordon led the donation signing ceremony at the Philippine Red Cross National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

Gavan said M/V Amazing Grace will be a "critical asset" in PCG operations to deliver medical and humanitarian aid during emergencies, natural disasters, and other possible public health crises.

Originally named M/V Sutsina, the ship was built to serve as a ferry in Alaska but was never used.

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He said that the PRC has recognized that transferring M/V Amazing Grace to the Coast Guard would maximize the value of the ship in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

"Rest assured that the Coast Guard will do everything we can to put that value both of us desires," he said.

Gordon meanwhile expressed hope that the vessel will be used for humanitarian missions to remote areas like Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

The ship can carry 20 ambulances or six trucks loaded with cargo and can sail through rough seas. It can also be used to evacuate people from calamity zones.

The name "M/V Amazing Grace" was the winning entry submitted by a 27-year-old nurse and PRC volunteer Raymond Papa during the "#NameThatRedCrossShip" contest in 2017, the time when the vessel was unveiled and launched. 

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Gordon said that the impact and aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 inspired the PRC to work to buy its own disaster response ship.