HEMSI: Cutting waves for progress and development

International trade is one of the most reliable ways for a country to develop. For this to happen, there must be reliable and effective port services. The biggest and best ships of the world carrying both passengers and cargo need to have a less than challenging way to dock in a port in the interest of both safety and efficiency.

Hi-Energy Marine Services, Inc. (HEMSI) provides just this service with the use of its present fleet of six tugboats with power ranging from 1,800 horsepower to twice that at 3,600 horsepower. It now services around 87 different clients in Manila Bay's South Harbor, North Harbor, North Harbor Centre , Rosario, Cavite and ports in Bataan. In fact, HEMSI will be permanently deploying two of its tugs (including its newest and most powerful) in the Bataan area.

Things began slowly in 2012 for HEMSI with service coming only from a single tugboat and some office space maintained at the Manila Bay Harbor Pilots' Partnership. The group had to go from one office to another to offer their services. This was a challenge, of course, with more established providers already rendering service. They first worked in tandem with their own competitors since the needs of some ships simply could not be handled by just one tug. It was only with the acquisition of a second tug that they could truly operate on their own.

Now with six tugs in its fleet, another three are expected by the end of next year. This growth is no mean feat for just four years! This was all achieved through a relentless pursuit of good customer service and being able to offer clients a complete and integrated package of solutions. These clients thus need only pay one amount for a whole range of facilities and resources instead of being constantly charged for every little thing they need. Providing such complete solutions to clients has endeared HEMSI to many companies and has resulted in shipping lines operating in Manila's various harbors granting them a contract to attend to all their tugboat needs. HEMSI is led by master mariners who have years of experience not only as captains of vessels but also as long term service providers, master of vessels, and business managers. Their continued success also did not go unnoticed as the slowly growing fleet of tugs was taken by shipping companies as a clear sign that HEMSI was truly worthy of their trust and continued patronage. While its services already reaching areas like Bataan and Cavite, the company is now looking towards even broader horizons and greater challenges as it prepares to expand its service area to more ports and areas outside its current scope. There has been a persistent call for their services in these two areas and the only way they can respond positively to these calls is the upcoming additions to their fleet of tugs. To get this done, they need not just three more tugs but at least five more within the next two years!

This is hardly an impossible feat at this point with HEMSI already riding the momentum created by its success in the past four years. Its having prioritized the safety and security of its clients' vessels and its own tugboat crews has brought them to where they are today. They have continued to attain their clients' satisfaction with the quality of service and have sustained a growing friendship making this not only a business partnership with the shipping companies but also a shared vision based on friendship and camaraderie. With its ideals guiding HEMSI's rise, the company can be a true participant in nation building, being a constant assurance to shipping companies coming from different parts of the world that when they come to the different Manila harbors and those nearby in Cavite and even Bataan, and other Philippine harbors of note in the near future, they will be well taken care of and they need not fear anything. When the HEMSI tugs come to do their job, the great ships from abroad carrying the riches of faraway countries can be assured that they will be secure and that their precious cargo and passengers will all be safe.

For more information on HEMSI, please contact Thina Aquino at (02) 256-3223, (02) 256-3225, mbhppmarine@yahoo.com or thina.aquino@hienergymarine.com. HEMSI is located at room 306 Velco Centre/Myers Bldg. cor Sr. Oca & Delagdo Sts, South Harbor Port Area, Manila.