BRP Dagupan City ( LC - 551 ) The BRP " Dagupan City " ( LC - 551 ) is the second and last ship of two " Bacolod City " class logistics support vessel , and is based on a helicopter capable variant of the US Army " Frank S . Besson " class . She is also considered as one of the most modern transport ships in the Philippine Navy , having been commissioned during the early 1990s . History . The BRP " Dagupan City " was built by Halter / Moss Point Marine of Escatawpa , Mississippi in the United States and was commissioned into Philippine Navy in 1994 . Both ships of its class were purchased brand - new by the Philippine government through the FMS program of the United States . Since its commissioning , both ships of its class were rigorously used in military and peacetime operations , and has been joining joint military exercises with foreign navies as well . Presently it is assigned with the Service Force of the Philippine Fleet . Renaming Issues . Originally named as the BRP " Cagayan de Oro City " , she was commissioned with the Philippine Navy as BRP " Dagupan City " . Recent photos show the words " BRP Cagayan de Oro City " still embossed at the rear end of the ship ' s steel surface . Details of the renaming were not made public . Technical details . The ship is powered by two General Motors - EMD 16 - 645EZ6 diesel engines with a combined power of around 5 , 800 hp driving two propellers . The main engines can propel the 1 , 400 ton ( 4 , 265 tons full load ) ship at a maximum speed of around . At a sustained speed of , it range is at around . As an amphibious transport , it is fairly armed for defensive purposes , and carries four 7 . 62mm general purpose machine guns at the front side decks , and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons near its two LCVP s . The prime mission of the ship is the direct transport and discharge of liquid and dry cargo to shallow terminal areas , remote under - developed coastlines and on inland waterways . The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities , and even in only four feet of water under full load , the ship is still able to land . This capability expands the choice of landing locations , and at the same time reduces the potential enemy impact on the logistics support operations . The ships have a capacity to transport up to 48 TEU or 2 , 280 tons vehicles / general cargo , or up to 900 tons on Logistics Over The Shore ( LOTS ) / amphibious operations . Its ramps and the main deck are able to withstand roll - on / roll - off operations of even heavy main battle tank s . Notable Operations . Exercises . The " Dagupan City " , together with BRP " Leopoldo Regis " ( PG - 847 ) , BRP " Rajah Humabon " ( PF - 11 ) , BRP " Artemio Ricarte " ( PS - 37 ) , USS " Essex " ( LHD - 2 ) , and USS " Tortuga " ( LSD - 46 ) were part of the naval component of the US - RP Balikatan 2009 ( BK09 ) bi - lateral exercises held on April 2009 . Again " Dagupan City " , together with BRP " Rajah Humabon " ( PF - 11 ) , and BRP " Apolinario Mabini " ( PS - 36 ) , USS " Essex " ( LHD - 2 ) , and USS " Denver " ( LPD - 9 ) were part of the naval phase of the US - RP Balikatan 2010 ( BK10 ) bi - lateral exercises held on March 2010 . Deployments . BRP " Dagupan City " together with BRP " Quezon " ( PS - 70 ) were sent to Singapore and Malaysia from November to December 2009 for an overseas training cruise for students from the Naval Education and Training Command and the Fleet Training Center , and as part of the Philippine contingent at Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition ( LIMA ) in Malaysia .