Tsuneishi launches bulk carrier for Japan

CEBU, Philippines -  As part of its goal to become a mother shipyard in Southeast Asia, Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc., one of the leading medium sized shipbuilders in the world, has introduced to the public its new bulk carrier at one of its slipways in Balamban town.

The SC-209, an 82,000 deadweight metric ton bulk carrier, was launched by THICI yesterday.

The vessel is set to be delivered tentatively in July to a Japanese buyer who ordered 11 ships from Tsuneishi from 2014 to 2016.

The 32.36-meter breadth SC-209 has a length of 229 meters and depth of 20 meters. It holds seven cargos.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and wife, Jobel, graced the event.

“We have a reason to be happy nga naa sila diri sa Balamban sa Cebu gyod. They have been contributing a lot to the economy. Imagine pila ang income madawat sa Balamban, including the families nga mahatagan og trabaho,” Davide said.

THICI has 13,000 employees, including subcontractor workers and affiliate companies.

Hitoshi Kono, president of THICI, said the company is aiming to be the mother shipyard in the SEA.

“We want to help in the economy of the Philippines and the employment. We want to develop the Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Academy for the Filipinos and ASEAN countries to come here and study shipbuilding…We want to expand more,” he said adding that they are currently training 29 students.

THICI under Tsuneishi Group was founded in 1994. The company managed to build a 23,000 metric tons bulk carrier in two years while still completing the shipyard.

In 2010, the first 180,000 tons Cape size bulk carrier was launched with no less than President Benigno Aquino III attended the event.

The company already delivered 178 ships. Kono said they are targeting 21 ships to be completed this year. (FREEMAN)