P-Noy launches biggest ship made in Cebu

P-Noy launches biggest ship made in Cebu
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 07:49:00 11/11/2010
Filed Under: Waterway & Maritime Transport, records

Balamban town in western Cebu claims the honor of producing “the biggest ship ever to be built in a Philippine shipyard.”

In yesterday’s seaside turnover ceremony, President Benigno Aquino III, said the feat was also a symbol of hope and pride for the Filipinos.

He cut the rope of the 92,000-tonnage MV Tenshu Maru as a champagne bottle atop the ship’s bow smashed open, and confetti and ribbons fell from the deck.

“This ceremony signifies our readiness to set sail. Hope lives in the Philippines, and powered by this hope, we have begun the journey toward the achievement of our aspirations. The time of darkness is over; daylight is finally peeking from beneath the clouds," he said in his speech during the naming and ceremonial delivery of the cape size bulk carrier in barangay Buanoy, Balamban.

The shipyard employs 11,000 workers and is expected to hire 2,000 more to handle other orders.

The vessel set sail to its port of origin in Panama, South America.

Aquino thanked the Aboitiz family and the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (THI) officials for their commitment to provide jobs and for their trust and confidence in the country.

“We have certainly come a long way. It seems only some time ago that we saw paper boats being ceremoniously set adrift on the Pasig River, and bore witness to the emptiness of its promise. Now, we are formally naming the biggest ship ever to be made in a Philippine shipyard," said Aquino.

Aboitiz Group chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, the local partner of THI, told the President that Tenshu Maru is the 120th vessel constructed by THI.

The ship builder is fully booked with orders until 2013.


It has a workforce of 11,000, but Aboitiz said they expect to hire 2,000 more workers to accommodate the orders.

Aboitize noted that 260,000 Filipino seafarers sail the seas, “making us number one and truly a maritime nation," aside from being the world's fourth biggest shipbuilder country combining the capabilities of Hanjin and THI.

The President said he was confident there would be more jobs for Filipinos once he returns from the 18th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) from Nov. 12-18 in Japan.

The operation of THI is a joint venture between Japan's Tsuneishi group and Cebu-based Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV). The shipyard opened 16 years ago and is located in a 147-hectare complex in Balamban.

The event on Wednesday also marked the vessel's delivery to Kambara Kisen of Japan.

The bulk carrier has a length of 286.90 meters, breadth of 45.00 meters, depth of 24.50 meters and draft of 18.04 meters. Its gross tonnage is 92,379, net tonnage of 60,235 and deadweight of 180,630 metric tons.

President Aquino arrived by chopper from Mactan Airport. He immediately went up the stage to name the ship and later cut the rope connected to a champagne bottle on the ship's bow.

The bottle smashed open, and confetti and colorful ribbons burst from a large ball.

If one stands at the pier, the ship is as tall as an eight or ten-floor building.

The activity was attended by local officials of Balamban headed by Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, AEV chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, AEV president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz and Tsuneishi vice president Makoto Kambara. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura also attended the event.

It was the first time for Governor Garcia to meet Aquino during an official visit in Cebu.

In his speech, the President emphasized his fight against corruption and reiterated his trust in Cebuano former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., who leads the Truth Commission tasked to investigate the anomalies in the past administration.

Aquino also asked the Filipinos to join him in all his efforts for the development of the country.

"The time of darkness is over. Daylight is finally peeking from beneath the clouds," he said.

After the ceremonies, Aquino looked at the miniature ships that were built in the THI shipyard and then left by helicopter.

About 2,000 cheering shipyard workers waited for him to arrive but he didn’t go out of the security cordon to shake their hands.

Governor Garcia and her brothers Rep. Pablo John Garcia and Mayor Nelson Garcia of Dumajug inspected and joined the send off ceremonies inside the ship.

Tokens were given to the ship, a large framed photo of the ship and an image of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

Following a tight schedule, the President flew to Cebu City to grace the opening of the P2.5-billion, 400-room Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.

It is the first Radisson Blu in the Asia-Pacific region franchise from the upscale Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

In his speech, Aquino said the opening of Radisson Blu showed that the SM Investment Corporation was bullish about the country's economy.

"With the Department of Tourism's intensive campaign to boost our tourism, the demand for accommodations is expected to dramatically increase. Indeed, there is no better time to open up this new facility than now," he said.

/Reporters Dale Israel and Aileen YAP and Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan