‘Hanjin town’ bracing for impact of development

CASTILLEJOS, Zambales—This third-class municipality is now expecting more benefits from business investments that accompany the growth of Hanjin, the South Korean company that has established a successful shipbuilding operation at the Subic Bay Freeport’s Redondo Peninsula.

While the Hanjin shipyard is geographically in Subic town, it is Castillejos, Subic’s next-door neighbor, that has experienced the most dramatic development impact from the growth of the Hanjin shipyard over the years.

“Since Hanjin started building its facility in 2006, Castillejos has experienced its biggest economic boom ever,” remarked Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez last week, as he appeared at a dental and medical outreach project conducted by the shipbuilding company at the Hanjin Village here.

He said that, in particular, the influx of Hanjin workers—about 25,000 at last count—had resulted in the booming of businesses here in Castillejos, which is now easily the biggest “bedroom community” for shipyard workers.

Dominguez said most of the workers at Hanjin came to settle at Castillejos because the main road they take to their job site passes through the town’s Barangay Balaybay. The number of settlers increased faster in 2012 when Hanjin built its low-cost housing project here at Barangay Nagbunga.

“Balaybay and Nagbunga are now the biggest barangays in our town in terms of population,” Dominguez said. “The workers sleep here, so houses, apartments and rooms for rent flourished. Then, they also buy their food and other household needs here, so local businesses are growing,” the mayor added.

According to town records, Castillejos has experienced the biggest population growth spurt after Hanjin started operation.

In 2000 the town, which has the smallest land area among the 13 towns in Zambales, had a population of only 33,108. In 2007 when the Hanjin shipyard opened, the population of Castillejos rose to 42,910, with a growth rate of 3.64 percent yearly.

Just three years after, in 2010, the town’s population was already 48,845, with the growth rate now registering 4.83 percent.

The coming of Hanjin also coincided with the establishment here of the town’s first automatic teller machine booths, first mini-shopping mall, first restaurant franchise and first 7-Eleven convenience store, said Bernie Chiong, the mayor’s secretary.

In areas where most Hanjin workers rent their rooms, food stalls and videoke bars have also sprung up, adding to the income of local entrepreneurs, Chiong noted. He also said that, with more Hanjin workers in town, the shops in Castillejos now remain open until midnight, when these used to close at 5 p.m. owing to slow business.

Aside from providing economic benefits, Hanjin also regularly undertakes health and education outreach projects, Dominguez said, adding that the company even put up a new public elementary school at the Hanjin Village in time for the opening of classes this year.

“If this economic boom continues, Castillejos may eventually grow to become a city, thanks to Hanjin,” Dominguez added. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hanjin-town-bracing-for-impact-of-development/

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10,000 workers needed in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Freeport is in need of more than 10,000 workers to help boost the investment here, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia announced during a press conference on Tuesday.

With the massive growth in port traffic and more orders being made to Freeport investors, he said the current number of workers here will not suffice.

He added that in ensuring fast processing of containers here, the SBMA needs to double its current number of cashiers.

The shipbuilding company Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) alone needs 10,000 more workers due to the influx of orders to build cargo vessels, said Garcia. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/luzon-newsbits-for-november-27-2014/

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Rich cultural exchange between Filipinos and Koreans in Subic

“South Korea and the Philippines have a long history together. South Korea’s political, economic and cultural ties with the Philippines are stronger than before.”

This was the statement made by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines President Jin Kyu Ahn during the opening ceremony of the Korean Cultural Festival at the Redondo shipbuilding facility on Wednesday.

With the theme: “Hi Korea Anneong ASEAN,” the Korea Cultural Festival is in line with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the relationship between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The celebration is a precursor to the two-day Korea-ASEAN Summit that will take place on December 11 in Busan, South Korea.

Ahn said that the evolving partnership between the Philippines and South Korea rests on a foundation of shared values and interests. He added that the vessels made by the company are a testament of the two countries’ ingenuity and hardwork.

Director for Korean Cultural Center Hon. Chung-Suk Oh and other Korean diplomatic officials who came to the event were welcomed by some 25,000 shipbuilding workers at the Redondo facility.

The Filipino workers were treated to a Korean traditional dance, as five beautiful Korean performers dressed in Hanbok gracefully danced onstage. A ballet dance was also showcased in the event.

Other highlights of the night were a balancing act, a traditional drum exhibition and a band performance by Korean artists. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
KOREAN HERITAGE – Dancers in colorful Korean Hanbok perform during the Korea Culture Festival at the Hanjin shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula, Subic on Wednesday.

http://www.mb.com.ph/rich-cultural-exchange-between-filipinos-and-koreans-in-subic/

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4 Filipino-made vessels unveiled

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil.) unveiled this week four 5,400-twenty footer container vessels built inside the company’s shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula.

The container ships, constructed under the supervision of the leading classification society DNV-GL, were orders of Oaktree Capital Management, a Korean shipbuilding giant.

HHIC-Phil. President Jin Kyu Ahn, Oaktree’s Managing Director Hermann Dambach and Senior Vice President Tom Jaggers witnessed the naming ceremony for the new vessels – christened M/V “Wide Foxtrot”; M/V “Wide Golf”; M/V “Wide Hotel,” and M/V “Wide India” weights 51,872 tons with overall length of 255 meters, breadth of 37.30 meters, 22 meters depth with service speed of 21.5 knots.

Ship owner Oaktree is a leading global alternative investment management firm with particular expertise in credit strategies. The company, whose headquarters is located in Los Angeles, USA, has a strong global presence.

President Ahn said the event signified Hanjin Subic shipyard’s continued quest for excellence in its core business by focusing on innovation to building highly sophisticated yet cost-effective and environment-friendly vessels for the ever evolving international shipbuilding market.

As of October this year, HHIC-Phil., Inc. had successfully built and exported a total 71 vessels of different sizes earning the distinction of being a consistent top exporter in the freeport; also making the country 5th shipbuilding nation in the world next to China, Korea, Japan and Brazil, and HHIC-Phil placing 11th in the list of almost 100 shipbuilders in the world. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
FILIPINO CLASS — The ‘M/V Wide Golf,’ one of the four 5,400-twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) class container vessels built by Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines, weighs 51,872 tons, with an overall length of 255 meters, a breadth of 37.30 meters, a depth of 22 meters, and a service speed of 21.5 knots.

http://www.mb.com.ph/4-filipino-made-vessels-unveiled/

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Hanjin top exporter in Subic Freeport

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) once again emerged as the biggest exporting company in this free port after building 11 ships in just the first half of this year at its state-of-the-art facility in this free port.

HHIC-Phil posted a total of $88.48 million in exports in the first half of the year, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said in its January to June 2014 report.

The SBMA also noted that the Subic shipbuilder’s output has increased from five vessels in the first half of 2013 to a total of 11 in the first semester of 2014.

The firm’s employment generation record also improved from 18,535 in the first half of 2013 to 20,562 in the same period this year, the SBMA stated.

HHIC-Phil President Jin Kyu Ahn said the South Korean shipbuilder delivered its latest projects recently, the 3,800-twenty-foot equivalent units container carriers MV Perceiver and MV Conceiver that were ordered by Belgium-based Delphis, which provides multimodal container transport throughout the world.

Each of the newly built vessels weighs 41,286 tons, measures 222 meters long, 37.3 m wide and 19.3 m deep, and attains a speed of 20.9 knots.

Both are equipped with the latest in marine vessel technology, Ahn said in a news statement.

The two ships were formally unveiled late last week at HHIC-Phil’s Redondo Peninsula shipyard here by top executives of Delphis in the presence of representatives from DNV-GL, a leading ship and offshore classification society.

Ahn said the launching of the new container carriers marks another milestone for HHIC-Phil, and affirms the company’s “unwavering commitment to innovation geared toward excellence in the craftsmanship of our products to better serve the challenging demands of our valued clients around the world for highly sophisticated yet cost-efficient and environment-friendly commercial vessels.”

He added that the HHIC-Phil has already built and exported a total 66 vessels as of July this year, ever since it started operations here in February 2006. Its products ranged from container ships and bulk carriers to crude oil tankers and other high-value oceangoing ships and offshore facilities.

The feat led the Philippines to be ranked by Clarkson Research Services Ltd., a reputable research firm based in Europe, as the fifth among the biggest shipbuilding nations—next only to China, South Korea, Japan and Brazil.

On the other hand, HHIC-Phil placed 11th in the list of almost 100 shipbuilders in the world, according to the Clarkson listing in June.

Ahn added that the firm’s order block is fully booked until 2018, thereby proving “HHIC-Phil’s global competitiveness and the stability of its Subic shipyard amid the intense competition in the international shipbuilding arena.”

The firm’s increased production has consistently put it on top of the list of the biggest exporters here.

HHIC-Phil’s January to June 2014 export record of P88.48 million has placed it way ahead of traditional top exporters here, like Sanyo Denki Phils. Inc., which notched a first-semester export of $11.45 million; Wistron Infocomm, $8.11 million; Tong Lung Phils. Metal Industry Co., $6.75 million; Hitachi Terminals Mechatronics, $6.74 million; HLD Clark Steel Pipe Co. Ltd., $5.04 million; Air 2100 Inc., $4.33 million; Nicera Philippines, Inc., $4.29 million; and Juken Sangyo Phils., $3.96 million. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Guests walk past the newly christened MV Perceiver, one of the two container carriers recently launched by HHIC-Phil at its Redondo Peninsula shipyard in the Subic Bay Freeport. (photo by Jonas Reyes)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/economy/36842-hanjin-top-exporter-in-subic-freeport

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Belgian firm orders ships made in Subic

Spurring the shipbuilding industry in the country, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) christened two newly built 3,800 TEU container carriers ordered by Belgian shipping firm Delphis inside the Redondo Peninsula last month.

Christened as “M/V Perceiver” and “M/V Conceiver,” the two ships proudly Philippine-made at the 300-hectare state-of-the-art Subic shipyard facility in Redondo, will beef up the operations of Delphis.

The event was graced by HHIC-Phils Inc. senior officials led by President Jin Kyu Ahn, top executives of Delphis and representatives from classification society DNV-GL.

“These new container carriers are well equipped with the latest technological advancement in shipbuilding. The occasion is yet another milestone for us because it affirms Hanjin’s unwavering commitment to innovation,” Ahn said. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
PROUDLY PH-MADE — The ‘M/V Perceiver’ is docked at one of the wharves of Hanjin’s shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula after being christened recently.

http://www.mb.com.ph/belgian-firm-orders-ships-made-in-subic/

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Phil’s Subic Shipyard holds a naming ceremony for five container carriers at the same time

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard made history again in the world’s shipbuilding industry by holding a naming ceremony for five vessels at the same time, the company said in its press release.

Around the globe, it is very rare to hold a naming ceremony for five vessels at a time. In Korea, a large shipyard once held a naming ceremony for four ships at the same time. In fact, Hyundai Heavy Industries set the world record by holding a naming ceremony for five vessels at a time in March.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard finally held a naming ceremony for five vessels at the same time for the second time in the world and for the first time in the Philippines.

The five vessels are eco-friendly 5,400TEU container carriers ordered by the global investor ‘Oaktree Capital Management’. They were named ‘Wide Alpha’, ‘Wide Bravo’, ‘Wide Charlie’, ‘Wide Delta’ and ‘Wide Echo’.

The naming ceremony was held with the attendance of nearly 200 related officials and investors including Ahn Jin-gyu, President of Subic Shipyard, and Andrea Cramer, Vice President of Oaktree. At the ceremony, President Ahn said, “We are very pleased to go with renowned investors such as Oaktree.” He added, “We are going to keep moving forward to enhance our competence and maximize customer satisfaction with high-tech, environment-friendly vessels”.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard is a large-scale shipyard built in the Subic Free Economic Zone (3,000,000㎡) in the Philippines in 2009. It has strengthened its ground as a leading exporter since its establishment through promotion of related industries, job creation and contribution to a local society.

In particular, it entered the world's top 10 for the first time last month, displaying a sharp growth. This year, it has already won the bids to build 300,000TEU Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and very large container ships (more than 10,000 TEU). The global shipbuilder has already booked enough advance orders for three years of production (approx. US 3.2 billion dollars, 50 ships).

An official from HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard said, “Subic Shipyard targets to leap into the world’s leading shipbuilder by maximizing the efficiency of its production system through the establishment of a systematic two-track system which means that Subic Shipyard specializes in the production of large vessels and offshore plants while Yeongdo Dockyard focuses on mid-size and special-purpose vessels”. (PortNews)

http://en.portnews.ru/news/183631/

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PH becoming Asia’s shipbuilding, repair hub

The government has been preparing to become a hub for shipbuilding and ship repair in the Asian region.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) deputy administrator for operations Atty. Gloria Victoria-Bañas told exhbitors of the first international shipbuilding and offshore equipment and technology exhibit at SMX Convention Center that MARINA is preparing the country to become a major center for ship building and ship repair.

Bañas noted that there has been an increase in foreign investments on shipbuilding and ship repair in the country.

“In 2013, the Philippines was ranked as the fifth world’s largest shipbuilding country after China, Japan, Korea and Brazil, as more local shipyards are building more ships of larger tonnage capabilities like bulk carriers, container ships and passenger ferries, particularly Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (THICI), Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation Philippines and Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc., which cater to the export market,” said Bañas.

Bañas said that while the local shipyards is focused primarily on the ship repair of the country’s domestic fleet, ship building projects are limited to small ships and motor bancas.

There are 121 licensed shipyards, eight facilities for the construction and repair of big ships and 14 other shipyards for medium-sized ships and 99 yards to service smaller ships.

Banas noted that before the emergence of Japanese and Korean shipyards in the country, European yards dominated the world’s shipbuilding industry.

“While shipbuilding still exists in Europe, they are now focusing more on specialized ships. European yards had conceded that they could not compete with the low labor, materials and land costs of Asian countries,” Banas said.

“As a result, the shipbuilding industry of developing countries such as the Philippines benefitted with such development,” said Banas.

To encourage more local and foreign investors, MARINA offers incentives for shipbuilding and ship repair projects under Republic Act 9295.

These incentives include exemption from value-added tax on the importation of capital equipment, machinery, spare parts, life-saving and navigational equipment and steel plates; net operating loss carry-over and accelerated depreciation.

Under the government’s Investment Priority Plan (IPP), investors in shipbuilding and ship repair are exempted from the payment of imported duties and taxes for the importation of equipment and parts needed for their operations and modernization and income tax holidays for shipyard operators.

Banas said there are other incentive schemes that investors can avail from the economic zones and free port zones such as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Cagayan Export Processing Zone Authority, Aurora Pacific Ecozone, Zamboanga City Special Economic Authority and the Maritime Industrial Park at PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental.

“I am confident that the needed speed and momentum can be created to further propel the shipbuilding and ship repair industry way beyond global competitiveness,” Banas added.

She also commended the shipbuilding industry exhibit organizer, Fireworks Philippines of the Fireworks Trade Media Group for holding the event which showcased the latest trends and developments in the maritime, offshore and shipbuilding industry and its ancillary industry that serves as a meeting place for international maritime, offshore and shipbuilding companies and association here in Manila.

“It is remarkable to know that the exhibition does not only show the latest products and techniques but it also serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas to improve the current shipbuilding technology and equipment and help maintain the Philippine current status as the world’s fifth largest shipbuilding industry in terms of order book by country,” said Banas. (Edu Lopez, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO FILE: Hanjin Shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport

http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-becoming-asias-shipbuilding-repair-hub/

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Hanjin christens five new vessels in Subic

Five new vessels were christened on Wednesday by Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) at their shipbuilding facility here – a historic feat and testament to the country’s growing capability in shipbuilding.

The five newly built 5,400 TEU (20-foot equivalent units) container carrier ships were ordered by Oaktree Capital Management, LP, a global asset management firm specializing in alternative investment strategies.

The five container carriers were named MV Wide Alpha, MV Wide Bravo, MV Wide Charlie, MV Wide Delta, and MV Wide Echo, respectively. Each has an overall length of 255m, breadth of 37.3m, depth of 22m, design draft of 12m, deadweight of 65,347M/T, guaranteed speed of 21.5 knots and main engine MAN-B&W 6G80ME-C9.2.

Among those present at the unveiling ceremony were Hanjin-Phil senior officials led by President Jin Kyu Ahn, Oaktree Senior Vice President Andreas Kraemer, Starboard Ventures Limited CEO Roger Iliffe, investors, high-ranking officials of multinational banks, and representatives from classification society DNVGL.

Ahn said Hanjin-Phil was extremely happy to collaborate with a professional and respected organization like Oaktree and hopes to continue the mutually beneficial relationship for future projects.

“We do turn great challenges into positive opportunities to improve our products even better to meet our clients’ increasing demands for high technology yet cost-efficient vessels. Hanjin-Phil Inc. never rested on its laurels as we continue to explore ways and means to further maximize and advance our shipbuilding capability for our clients’ full satisfaction,” Ahn added.

Hanjin has invested US$1.7 billion worth of foreign direct investments in the Philippines to establish a shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport. Being an export oriented enterprise for new vessels since 2009, Hanjin has consistently topped the list of exporters in the country, boosting the Philippines’ export sales portfolio year-on-year.

Hanjin Subic shipyard employs more than 20,000 Filipino workers. With the shipyard’s capital and labor-intensive operations, livelihood and job opportunities abound for many local companies, start-up enterprises, public establishments and local residents in the surrounding communities.

Hanjin Subic shipyard continues to be a reliable driver of inclusive economic growth and development in the countryside as the backbone of the Philippine economy.

The Philippines ranks fourth among the largest shipbuilding nations, while Hanjin-Phil Inc. is number 10 of less than a hundred shipbuilding companies across the globe, according to the May 2014 shipping journal. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
PROUDLY PHILIPPINE-MADE — ‘M/V Wide Alpha’ (foreground), ‘M/V Wide Echo,’ and ‘M/V Wide Charlie’ are seen here at the quaywall of the Hanjin Shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula, Subic Bay Freeport on Wednesday. The three are part of the five newly-christened 5,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container vessels made in the Philippines by shipbuilder, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/hanjin-christens-five-new-vessels-in-subic/

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Hanjin Subic enters world’s top 10 shipyards

According to Clarkson Research Studies in the U.K., the world’s leading shipping services provider, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard ranked 10th in the world for the first time in terms of Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT) with 1,757,000. This landmark was hit in five years since it was launched in April 2009, the company said in its press release.

It has no doubt that HHIC has been a pioneer in domestic shipbuilding industry, building Korea’s first steel vessel, oil rig, Asia’s first membrane LNG carrier, air cushion vehicle, cable ship and icebreaker. Because of economic crisis in 2008, emergence of Chinese shipbuilders and competitive competition, however, it felt behind.

Thanks to the completion of HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard, the Korean shipbuilder was finally able to overcome its limitation in building high value-added vessels. Empowered by the improvement of mid- and long-term competitiveness, HHIC has established its ground to develop into the world’s leading shipbuilder.

Last month, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard won the bid to build the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) for the first time. In the past, HHIC didn’t even attempt to participate in this kind of bid due to its narrow shipyard in Yeongdo.

Entering this year, in particular, HHIC has been successful in several bids including 300,000DWT VLCCs and over 10,000TEU VCLSs. So far, the company has book advance orders (nearly US 3.2 billion dollars, 50 ships in total) for three (3) years. Now, HHIC is treated as one of the world’s leading global shipbuilders.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard is a global shipyard (900,000 pyeong) situated in Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). It features all kinds of state-of-the-art facilities including two huge docks, 4km-long quay, four ultra-large gantry cranes and 1km-long automated assembly lines. In particular, the world’s largest dock (Dock 6, 550m in length, 135m in width, 13.5m in depth) is capable of building six container carriers at the same time.

An official from HHIC said, “We believe that we would be able to move higher with the Subic Shipyard.” He added, “We are going to develop HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard into a global hub for shipbuilding and make Yeongdo Shipyard concentrate on passenger & cargo carriers and special-purpose vessels to evolve into a global shipbuilder.” (PortNews)

http://en.portnews.ru/news/181257/

Photo: http://www.hhic-phil.com/aboutus/shipyard1.aspx

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DOLE slaps Hanjin subcontractor with cease and desist order

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, May 7 (PIA) -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office III issued Tuesday a cease and desist order (CDO) to Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation Philippines (HHIC-Phils) subcontractor Finback Corporation following an accident last week that claimed the life of one employee.

“29-year old Ryan Gacus obtained second degree burn from an explosion of a gas-hose of oxy-ethylene used while he was conducting cutting and fit-up work. He was rushed to the nearest hospital and sadly died hours later,” DOLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante said.

“Based on our investigation, the probable cause of the incident is due to existence of a pinhole at the middle portion of the gas-hose used in cutting works. This might have been resulted from set-up or pulling of the hose inside the work area. With such small leak from the pinhole, workers could not detect the gas leak from the tools used. In the event that he relocated/ re-positioned the tools for a more comfortable condition in finishing the task, the damage portion might have been placed near the victim. Thus upon igniting the cutting torch the hose instantly exploded at the victim resulting to burn injuries,” Agravante explained.

In a meeting with representatives of HHIC and Finback, DOLE urged them to comply with a number of requirements.

This include conduct of Basic Safety Awareness Training to 10% of the skilled workers of Finback and submission of Employer’s accident-illness report; accident/incident report with photos attached; police report; medical abstract; employment record/contract; work methodology/procedure; employee’s profile; employee safety orientation; proof of document for acknowledgement receipt of social welfare benefits, and proof of documents for salary payments and remittance for Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

Meanwhile, DOLE is also working closely with the two companies for the provision of financial assistance and other benefits to the family of the victim. (CLJD-PIA 3)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=561399394106

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Worker dies in Subic shipyard accident

SUBIC, Zambales , Philippines– A worker died from burns in the latest accident that occurred at the Hanjin shipyard here, hospital sources said yesterday.

Randy Gacos, 29, a welder of Finback Corp., a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., suffered severe burns while working Wednesday. He was rushed to the Unihealth-Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but doctors failed to save him.

Sources said Gacos’ welding hose caught fire and the flames spread over his body.

Data showed Gacos is the 37th worker to have died while working at the shipyard.

Meanwhile, a labor group challenged President Aquino to uphold and protect the rights of the workers at the Hanjin shipyard.

Partidong Manggagawa chairman Renato Magtubo said the death of Gacos would serve as a test for Aquino who once thanked Hanjin for its P24-billion investment in the country.

“The Hanjin shipyard is a graveyard of workers. While capitalists are scrimping on protection for its work force and the government is sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace,” Magtubo said.

The group estimated that there are at least 21,000 workers at the shipyard but only a few hundreds are employed directly while the rest were hired through the subcontractors. (Bebot Sison, Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/05/04/1319113/worker-dies-subic-shipyard-accident

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Hanjin starts building VLCCs, rolls off three more ships

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction’s shipyard in Subic Bay will start building Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) for the first time.

Navig8 has ordered four 300,000 dwt VLCCs there while another unspecified European owner has committed to build two more.

The 300,000 dwt newbuilding measures 333 m in length, 60 m in breadth with 30 m of height.

The ships will start delivering in the second half of 2016. Hanjin’s Subic yard is now busy through to 2017. Hanjin’s own yard in Busan is too small to handle ships of VLCC size.

New Ships

Meanwhile, three newly built container vessels were rolled off at the Korean shipbuilding facility.

The vessels were ordered by the German shipping company Bernhard Schulte Gmbh and Co. KG last week.

The order for these three 5,400 TEU Container Class Carriers is due to the growing number of German manufacturing orders in February, mostly coming from domestic orders.

Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction–Philippines (HHIC-Phil Inc.) held the unveiling at their state-of-the-art shipyard facility in Subic as the three vessels were christened as M/V Christ Schulte, M/V Clemens Schulte, and M/V Carl Schulte. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://seashipnews.com/News/Hanjin%E2%80%99s-Subic-yard-starts-VLCC-construction/3w3c2077.html

http://www.mb.com.ph/national-newsbits-for-april-8-2014/

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