Hanjin launches two more Subic-made container ships

Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil.) has launched its two new container ships at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The two Subic-made container carriers, which will be named Opal and Topaz, respectively, were concurrently launched from HHIC-Phil’s dry dock # 5 on Dec 4. 

The concurrent launching of two container ships, Pyeong Jong Yu, Hanjin deputy managing director, said, “is the first event not only for HHIC-Phil. but for the Philippine shipbuilding history.”

“True to our word, we have finished building these two 4,300-TEU container carriers within six-and-a-half months without compromising required high quality, starting from their keel laying works done last May 15, 2008,” Pyeong said.

“This is due to the use of up-to-date technology, state-of-the-art equipment, weather-proof dock shelter that enables working during rainy season, hardworking attitudes of our employees, systematic training at Skill Development Center that is deemed the largest in the world, actual work-training in the shipyard thereafter, and the size of dry dock # 5, where four vessels can be simultaneously built together,” Pyeong added.

Pyeong also said that the company’s “real secret in the successful completion of the ships is the ever-increasing number of skilled Filipino workers employed at our shipyard.”

Pyeong also said that more than 15,000 workers are now employed at the Subic shipyard.

“Certainly, our company expects to achieve its goal of launching more than 15 container ships next year as the workers will surely become better familiarized with shipbuilding works due to continuous training and enhanced work experience,” Pyeong also said.

“This is revolutionary, not only for HHIC-Phil. but also for the Philippine industry. In the middle of the world-wide recession, it could be expected that this would greatly contribute to the Philippine economy,” Pyeong added.