Cokaliong unveils M/V Filipinas Mindanao
Cebu-based shipping company, Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., introduced its biggest and fastest ship in the fleet, M/V Filipinas Mindanao to boost the logistic capability of its fleet across the Visayas and Mindanao regions as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to challenge the flow of goods despite the demand.
Chester Cokaliong, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, said the P430 million (including duties, taxes and renovation) and 14th roro-passenger vessel of the Cokaliong fleet will ply the Cebu-Surigao route.
“This will replace our other boat M/V Filipinas Cebu and will alternate with my other vessel M/V Filipinas Surigao Del Norte because it has bigger passenger capacity at 934 and has bigger cargo space,” Cokaliong said.
M/V Filipinas Mindanao, formerly M/V Feelease Soya, was built in April 2001 and had its homeport in Wakkanai City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The 19-year-old vessel has an overall length of 95.70 meters and breadth of 15 meters. It has a gross tonnage of 3,810.
Powered by two units of Daihatsu 3,200 HP for its main engines and two units of Daihatsu 500 KVA for its auxiliary engines, M/V Filipinas Mindanao is classed under the Italy-based Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), a member of the International Association of Classification Societies.
It also boasts of a brand new engine monitoring system under the Taiyo Electric Co., Ltd. Engine Monitoring System brand. It is the fifth roro-passenger vessel in the Cokaliong fleet that has an engine monitoring system.
The ship’s navigational equipment include an SSB Radiotelephone, VHF Radiotelephone with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Automatic Identification System (AIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), GPS Video Plotter, Echo Sounder, Gyro Compass and Magnetic Compass, Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), Search and Rescue Transponder (SART), Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) and two radars with Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA).
“Since March up to now, our shipping operations are normal. Except that we did not carry passengers, only cargoes. There is a huge demand as both businesses and consumers are stocking up on essential goods, anticipating irregular trips,” he said.
The M/V Filipinas Mindanao will generate an additional employment of 50 officers and crewmembers.