BOQ recognizes Cebu’s cleanest ships

CEBU, Philippines -  With Cebu being considered as the center of the shipping industry in the country, leading shipping companies were awarded yesterday for continuously fulfilling an important factor in excellent ship service - cleanliness.

The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), together with the Department of Health (DOH),  awarded  the cleanest vessels in various categories for the year 2012.

The annual awarding led by BOQ, is aimed to acknowledge the efforts of shipping industries in maintaining the cleanliness of their ships which is an imperative requirement of the office, as well as DOH and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

BOQ Director Edgardo Sabitsana praised the ship owners for the standard maintained in their operations, which has helped the industry grow extensively.

“No doubt Cebu is the nucleus of the shipping industry in the country,” Sabitsana said.

BOQ is seeing the continuous growth of the industry through the partnership with other countries like those of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

One of the shipping companies that is a consistent awardee for having the cleanest ships is Cokaliong Shipping Lines, which grabbed three awards this year for three of their nine vessels.

M/V Filipinas Dumaguete of CSLI was named cleanest vessel for 2012 under the Big Ferry category while M/V Filipinas Iligan and M/V Filipinas Cebu got the first and second place, respectively, for cleanest vessel under the Cargo-Passenger Vessel category. Chesna Cokaliong, Special Assistant to the Founder, CEO and COO, said that they are grateful that BOQ continues to recognize their efforts in making sure that all of their ships are clean at all times.

“In our company, one of our top priorities is the cleanliness of our vessels,” said Cokaliong.

She explained that maintaining the cleanliness of ships is not that easy but they make sure this is followed in every trip.

Further, Cokaliong agreed that the shipping industry, especially in Cebu, is continually booming, which she says has been proven by the growth of their company.

Cokaliong Shipping is expected to introduce another vessel in the middle of this month and its maiden voyage is set in March next year.

The new vessel will be plying the route to Jagna and Butuan.

Aside from CSLI, another company that has been consistently awarded by BOQ is Gothong Southern Shipping Inc.

Its vessel, M/V Don Albino Sr., got the cleanest ship award in the Cargo Vessel category.

2GO Travel also bagged a number of awards, getting the first to third place under the Luxury Vessel category.

First place was M/V St. John Paul II, second was M/V St. Gregory the Great, and third place was M/V St. Leo the Great.

Its vessel, M/V St. Anthony de Padua, also got the third place in the Cargo  Passenger Vessel category

2GO Travel’s M/V St. Braquiel and M/V St. Jhudiel bagged the first and second place, respectively, in the Fast Craft Vessel category. 

M/V Lite Ferry 7 of Lite Shipping Corporation grabbed the second place in the Big Ferry category and M/V Georich of George & Peter Line, Inc. was third under the same category.

In the Small Vessel category, M/V Lapulapu Ferry 8, Ferry 1 and M/V Rosalia 3 of Lapulapu Shipping Lines Inc., grabbed the first, second and third place, respectively.

M/V Ocean Jet 8 of Ocean Jet Fast Ferries Corporation got the third place in the Fast Craft Vessel category.

Special awards like Ship Cook of the Year went to Stanley Mahinay of M/V St. Anthony of 2Go Travel.

Chief Steward of the Year was Alexander Anghang of St. Anthony de Padua, also of 2GO Travel.

Ship Physician of the Year went to Vicente Letrondo of M/V Princess of the South of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation, Ship Nurse of the Year was Rey Franco Gacrama of M/V St Anthony de Padua of 2GO Travel, and Ship Hotel Manager of the Year to Agapito Gaviola Jr. of M/V St. John Paul II of 2GO Travel.

Further, MARINA 7 Regional Director Nannette Dinopol said that they are grateful for the efforts of BOQ as well as the ship owners who consistently make sure that vessels are clean.

MARINA, through a Memorandum of Agreement with BOQ, also conduct assessment on cleanliness of the ships.

Dinopol said that they previously had an awarding for ships that top in safety measures.

She will raise the possibility to the management of bringing its back.  (FREEMAN)