SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) launched two newly-built bulk carriers during a vessel-naming ceremony held at its shipyard here on Saturday.
The vessels, which were named M/V Star Borealis and M/V Star Polaris, have an individual capacity of 180,000 deadweight tons and a gross tonnage of 93,681 tons. Both vessels are 292 meters long, 45 meters wide and 24.75 meters deep.
The ships were purchased by Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a global shipping company based in Athens, Greece, providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia, Olongapo City mayor James Gordon, Jr., HHIC-Phil president Jin Kyu Ahn, as well as Star Bulk president Spyros Capralos graced the event. Nicoletta Panayiotopoulos and Danae Capralos served as sponsors in the ceremony.
In his message, SBMA Chairman Garcia extended his appreciation to HHIC-Phil for continuing to contribute to Philippine economic development through its shipbuilding operations in this freeport.
“As you maybe well aware of, because of Hanjin’s presence in the Philippines in the past few years, the Philippines has come from nowhere to become the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world.
And I congratulate President Ahn and his staff for the magnificent job that they have done here in Subic Bay,” he said.
Garcia also welcomed Hanjin’s plans to expand the shipbuilder’s presence in Subic Bay, saying that the SBMA has already reserved an additional 200 hectares for such purpose.
“We hope that in a few years, the Philippines will go from number four to number one in the world,” Garcia said.
“We hope that you will continue to contribute to the economy, not only in terms of the production of ships but also in creating, especially, more jobs for Filipinos,” he added.
For his part, Star Bulk president Spyros Capralos extended his gratitude to Hanjin for making top-quality ships for his company.
“Today’s ceremony is of high importance because Star Borealis and Star Polaris are the company’s first new-building vessels ever,” he said in his address.
“We are very pleased, not only with the superb construction quality, but also with the safety record of the construction since there were zero incidents.”
Capralos also said that Star Bulk and Hanjin share the same vision for better and more effcient ships that will suprpass the strictest global safety and environmental standards.
“We acknowledge the efforts made to ensure that our vessels were designed with low-waste levels and highly-efficient plans and equipment to support low-energy operation. Improving energy efficiency is critical not only because it reduces emissions, but also because it directly affects our stability,” he said.
After the unveiling ceremony, both vessels were blessed in a Greek Orthodox Church religious rite. A tour of the vessels and a ceremonial horn-honking immediately followed the blessing.
HHIC-Phil, which is located at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula, has the two largest drydocks in the world. Its operations here now make the Philippines the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world.
The Subic shipyard currently employs 22,000 skilled workers from various local communities.
