Cokaliong Shipping inaugurates M/V Filipinas Agusan Del Norte
Shipping giant, Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., inaugurated its newest fleet addition last March 5, 2022.
M/V Filipinas Agusan Del Norte, the first brand new vessel built by the company ever, is a RoRo vessel that has a service speed of 14 knots running with two Daihatsu 2,800KW main engines, backed with three Cummins 460KW auxiliary engines.
Scheduled to sail the waters to Cebu-Nasipit today, MV Filipinas Agusan Del Norte, is also the first X-bow designed ship ever to ply the Philippine waters.
An X-bow is described is a “backward sloping bow” or an inverted ship bow design which is used for increasing the fuel efficiency and safety of the vessel at sea. As the name suggests, the inverted bow design has its farthest point at the extreme point of the vessel (towards the waterline) which gives a continuous sharp bow shape to the hull. The sharp design at the extreme front helps the vessel to cut through the waves and improve overall stability, especially in heavy waves.
Capable of accommodating close a thousand passengers, the 14th ship of the growing Cokaliong fleet, internationally classed by Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), has 6,555.00 gross tonnage. M/V Filipinas Agusan Del Norte is granted a Pioneer Status which gives her route exclusivity for six years by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
The RoRo passenger, M/V Filipinas Agusan Del Norte, built in Zhejiang Province, China and launched on August 25, 2021, is equipped with top of the line navigational equipment such as SSB Radiotelephone, VHF Radiotelephone with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Automatic Identification System (AIS), Global Positioning System (GOS), Electronic Chart System (ECS), Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), Echo Sounder, and two radars.
Even in the middle of a pandemic and still recovering from Super Typhoon Odette devastation, Cokaliong Shipping continuous to move ahead, and invested P400 million for this brand new ship.
Travel frequencies within these routes are consequently increased from four times to six times weekly (Cebu-Nasipit-Cebu), and from one time to twice a week for Cebu-Nasipit-Jagna-NasipitCebu route.
The M/V Filipinas Agusan Del Norte, makes history in the country’s sea-based transport, not only in pioneering the introduction of sophisticated ship design, but also in raising the bar in providing world class RoRo (Roll on; Roll off) services.
“We want to keep modernizing and improving in line with MARINA’s policy of fleet modernization and to provide a much better choice to the riding public” said Atty. Chesna Cokaliong, the Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., chief of staff of the founder, chief executive officer and chief operating officer.