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IT was a proud moment earlier this week at the appropriately chosen
Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin when Herma Shipyard, Inc.—a wholly
Filipino-owned company involved in ship repair and
shipbuilding—unveiled the first Filipino made internationally
classed double hull petroleum tanker, a feat never before achieved
by a local shipbuilding company.
Time was when the Philippines merely provided
the crew to man the ships plying the ships on the global seas. Now
the country is even providing the ships—and, indeed, it was a
cause for celebration.
Herma Group of Companies Chairman and CEO
Herminio Esguerra presented the M/T Matikas at the launching
ceremony along with his lovely wife Herma Group of Companies
president Malou Esguerra, Herma Shipyard president George Cottrell
and Herma Shipping and Transport president Enrico Cavestany.
Notable guests gracing this milestone occasion
included former President Fidel Ramos, Transport and Communications
Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Petron
president Kamal Al-Yahya, Thailand Ambassador Kulkumut Singhara and
personalities from the maritime, petroleum and shipbuilding
industries.
M/T Matikas sailed out of the Herma Shipyard for
its maiden voyage last month. The 3,710 deadweight ton product
carrier is the company’s first foray into this type of new
building. The tanker—so called because it echoes the Filipino
adjective used to describe “one with handsome qualities, a
dignified persona and a commanding presence that hovers above the
rest,”—is a symbol of pride for many Filipino shipbuilders.
All of 87.3 meters long, 14 meters wide and a
draft (loaded) of 5.95 meters, M/T Matikas is powered by a 2565.68
HP Hanshin marine diesel main engine and 2 Yanmar auxiliary engines
and is capable of 12.5 knots speed. The tanker is classed by the
American Bureau of Shipping and is SIRE compliant to carry
persistent oil. It also conforms to the Marpol regulations requiring
all tankers carrying heavy grade oil products to be double hulled to
prevent the occurrence and adverse effect of oil spills to the
environment.
From a small company with one rented barge and
10 employees in 1985, the Herma Group has grown to be a
multi-billion peso conglomerate with nine companies providing
petroleum, maritime and environmental services to foreign and
domestic industrial partners. It is a shining example of how
enterprise, excellence, integrity, respect for the individual, and
teamwork can build industries and change lives.
“The launching of M/T Matikas answers my
nagging question whether we Filipinos are ready to build tankers for
the global market. I stand here proud, because instead of importing
a tanker, we said yes to the challenge. With Filipino skill and
talent we built M/T Matikas to international design and construction
standards, all by ourselves,” Esguerra revealed
M/T Matikas is chartered by Petron Corp. for the
transport of black fuel products from the Petron refinery to their
various depots and terminals across the country.
More tankers are soon to roll out of the Herma
Shipyard in Mariveles, Bataan, as the demand steadily increases. Its
competitive pricing, quality and conformity to international
standards have already attracted the attention of companies with
heavy shipping requirements. M/T Matikas is the first of four units
Herma Shipyard is building for its sister firm Herma Shipping and
Transport Corp.
As the Herma Group of Companies celebrates this
Filipino marine engineering feat, Esguerra called for “an honest
to goodness partnership with the government” to allow steady
supply and reasonably stable prices for steel and other materials,
and provide policies that will spur the growth of a vibrant and
world-class indigenous shipping industry and provide employment to
thousands of skilled workers here at home.
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Email: bizzfizz_98@yahoo.com
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