Lack of infra support hampers growth of local boating sector

Positive prospects for Cebu’s local boat industry is foreseen after the first commercially manufactured yacht sets sail, however, boat builders are seeing a problem that needs to be addressed by the government and that is the lack of infrastructure to support the demand that will be generated.

“The Philippines having 7,100 islands has a potential to become a boating paradise however, the country does not have enough infrastructure specifically marinas to support the industry. Infrastructure support and facilities are very important in this kind of venture,” said Ricky Martin, Coastline Moldings Group, Inc.’s Marketing Director in a recent interview.

Coastline Moldings Group, Inc. is the Cebu-based fiber glass manufacturing company behind Coastline 42, the first ever locally-manufactured yacht here in the country.

Coastline 42 sets sail this Wednesday at the Porter Marina in the municipality of Liloan and this yacht was manufactured for over four months at the company’s plant in Talamban which employed some 50 Cebuanos that were trained for boat building under international and export-quality standards.

“The local government should look at improving the country’s infrastructure and facilities as a development program as we are seeing a huge potential for the country’s boating scene not only in terms of boat building but also boating attractions with inter-island hopping on-board cruise boats,” said European businessman Tim Hannam, one of Coastline’s owners.

Banking on the country’s skilled workers especially Cebuanos who have already developed basic skills from the furniture industry such as wood working and metal work, the foreign boat builders are eyeing to reach a considerably higher production of boats this year especially after the yacht stirs interest from both foreign and local inventors.

Coastline is targeting to create this year about 20 boats and is planning to increase their facility to accommodate the growing demand of production work. They are also currently undergoing other developments to produce facilities unique in the country such as marina docking systems, decking systems and a new concept of swimming pools.

Targeting to serve not only the Australian markets where they have already built strong linkages with, Coastline is also looking at building boats for domestic demands which they have seen to increase.

With the aim of bringing the boat building skills of their domestic labor force to standard level that is export-quality, Coastline is eyeing more on-the-job trainings for their manpower and further skills enhancement once they get to intensify their operation and double their production in months to come.

They are also looking at expansion program that will increase their operation such as attracting refit and refurbishing works of older boats and yachts from other countries.

“We want to attract those refit works being done in Thailand and Vietnam because here in Cebu there is a much cheaper cost of living so there is no reason why we can’t do that work here  especially that we have the expertise and labor force to do the job right,” added Hannam.

Seeing a multiplier effect for their local operation, Coastline is optimistic to also attract other foreign boat builders to venture into the country’s boating industry especially the province of Cebu and to also develop this industry sector especially that the country is an ideal destination for this kind of business activity.

“The boats produced here in the country are only made in people’s backyard and these are mostly bangkas. The country has a big boating heritage and we want to bring that to the 21st century,” stressed Hannam.