PH positions itself as ‘ship repair hub’ in Asia

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. said the Philippines would soon be the hub of ship repair works in Asia, stressing strong indicators in job orders in the country’s more than 100 active shipyards.

He said the strategic position of maritime and archipelagic Philippines in the Asia-region is very favorable climate to ship repair undertaking, and ship-building as well. “We are at the crossroads of the region,” he pointed out.

Collated reports from the Authority’s shipyards regulation service (SRS), deputy administrator for operations’ (DAO) office and 7th regional office said there are 121 licensed shipyards, eight facilities for construction and repair of big ships, 14 other shipyards for medium-size ships, as well and 99 yards to service smaller ships.

SRS chief, Director Ramon C. Hernandez, said there are seven ‘large’ shipyards, 12 ‘medium; and 94 ‘small’ shipyards strategically located across the country.

DAO Atty. Gloria V. Bañas and MRO 7 Director Nanette V. Dinopol said the largest ship-building and shiprepairing shipyards in the country are Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc,. Cebu, Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. in Subic and Kepple Phils Marine, Inc. in Batangas.

In the World Book Order in terms of capacity. The Philippines is ranked as the fourth largest ship-building.

In the world, after China, Japan and Korea.

According to Administrator Mejia, there is a growing market on the production of Philippine-made ships by foreign/locally owned and managed shipyards like Tsuneishi and Hanjin, There is also a big demand for bigger tonnage capacity.

The resultant products of ship building and ship repair (SBSR) undertaking in the Philippines, are increase of employment , training opportunities for Filipino shipyard including marine engineers and naval architects. He cited the more than 13,000 Filipinos working at Tsuneishi shipyards in Balamban, Cebu as fitting beneficiaries.

“This also gives opportunity to Filipino technical men to catch up with the latest SBSR technology, and provides programs for community development.

Marina cited the following as top “Go-To” SBSR locations: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Cagayan Export Processing Zone Authority, Aurora Pacific Ecozone, Zamboanga City Special Economic Authority, and the Maritime Industrial Park at PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental.