On 29 May 2015, DOTC and the JMU Corporation entered into a contract for the construction of the vessels and related services of the Project. Commitment between the two parties was further enhanced with the signing of a Letter of Intent between DOTC and JMU affirming their intention for mutual cooperation and partnership, considering the possibility of pursuing future projects
The ship features a night vision camera and a bullet-proof navigational bridge. It also has a cruising speed of 46 kilometers per hour and a range of 2,760 km, according to the coast guard.
The Philippines acquired the ships through an official development assistance loan of 7.37 billion pesos ($147 million) from Japan.
