Hanjin delivers 2 bulk carriers to UK-based multinational

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines  â€” Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd.–Philippines (HHIC-Phil. Inc.) has reached yet another milestone when it held the simultaneous unveiling of two newly built bulk carriers in its modern 30-hectare shipyard in Redondo Peninsula last April 16.

The vessels, named after famous explorers Christopher Columbus and Abel Tasman, were the seventh and eighth ships purchased by leading international mining group Rio Tinto Shipping Ltd.

RTM Columbus and RTM Tasman, which both tipped the scale at 106,796 tons, will have London in the United Kingdom as their homeport.

Last January, Hanjin also delivered two vessels to England-based Rio Tinto executives — M/V RTM Cabot and M/V RTM Drake — each worth about $60 million.

Attending the event in Hanjin’s modern shipyard in Subic for the unveiling of RTM Columbus and RTM Tasman were Annbel McGagh and Mrs. Wendy Smith, together with HHIC-Phil. Inc. senior officials, Rio Tinto executives Alastair Fischbacher, Allan Smith and John McGagh, and representatives of classification society Lloyd’s Register.

HHIC-Phil. Inc. president Jin Kyu Ahn said the Korean shipbuilder’s capacity to produce high-tech ships is largely due to its ability to remain resilient amid the growing challenges facing the global shipbuilding market today.

“We continuously harness and maximize our shipbuilding capability and resources to win our clients’ trust and confidence. We believe that these are the vital ingredients in order for us to keep on exporting commercial vessels during these difficult times.”

With cutting-edge technology combined with highly trained and skilled manpower, Jin said Hanjin is “pushing hard to sustain a cost-efficient production system and meet, if not surpass, the clients’ expectations and demands.”

Jin noted, however, that the shipbuilding industry has yet to regain its long lost ground owing to small demand this year for new vessels caused by diminished maritime activities around the world.

“HHIC-Phil. Inc. is exerting its best efforts to be competitive and cope with this depressing situation, which has already created cut-throat competition among shipbuilders in the international front. Thus, any form of short- or long-term support to help uplift our industry from the public sector is welcome, if only to perpetuate, or push even further, the Philippines’ current fourth place ranking in the global shipbuilding arena,” Jin said.

But despite this daunting task of keeping its core business afloat vis-à-vis the present economic reality, the Korean shipbuilder will continue to look after the welfare of its shipyard workforce and prevent cutting down of operations, Jin said.

Since 2008, HHIC-Phil. Inc. has successfully delivered a total of 51 vessels worth over $3 billion for various overseas clients, mostly engaged in international trade and maritime solutions, thus boosting the Philippines’ export portfolio.