Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines partners with Orient Register of Shipping on shipbuilding

ISP partners with Orient on shipbuilding
February 3, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/03/business/maritime-business/isp-pa...

The Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) and Orient Register of Shipping (Orient Class) have entered into a partnership to design and build a steel-hulled special-purpose ship for the training of marine personnel.

Capt. Gaudencio Morales, president of ISP said the 3,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) ship that they will build will be used for training marine personnel such as maritime cadets.

They will also build boats using composite alternative materials, as well as tourism fast crafts in the shipbuilding facility at IMP Shipyard and Port Services in Albuera, Leyte.

The ISP president owns Metro Ferry Inc., a ferry service that operates the Cebu Pier 8 to Muelle Osmeña, Lapu-Lapu City route. Capt Morales made necessary improvements to ensure the sea worthiness of all Metro Ferry vessels. All their vessels were inspected and classed by Orient Class, an independent classification society.”

Orient Class and ISP also set sights on designing and building small and economical steeled-hulled fishing boats so that local fishermen may have the option to replace their old wooden boats. They will also strive for the re-integration of retiring merchant marine personnel into marine surveying and develop a career in shipbuilding and repair industry,” Capt. Morales said. He furthered, “Together we can go beyond classification, affirming the safety of lives and property at sea as our primary objective…and to working with the Orient Class team for the good of the domestic shipping and hip building Industry.”

The seafarers’ group and classification society joining hands is seen as a step in further promoting safety in domestic shipping. Also, the relationship of a classification society with several stakeholders in the maritime industry and members of the safety chain was further strengthened by the partnership.”

The partnership with ISP is a manifestation of our commitment to the safety of the people on board the ships we classed. Seafarers operate the ships and classification societies classed and surveyed the ships.

Safe ships are needed not only to protect precious cargo, prevent environmental damage but most importantly to protect the lives of the people on board, including the crew and passengers or the riding public,” Lawyer Manuel A. Tiuseco, president of Orient Class said. Orient Class a duly accredited local classification society by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) classed most of the ships in the domestic trade with vessels comprising tugs and barges, tankers, passenger vessels, and cargo ships.

The company’s clients include Harbor Star Shipping and Transport, Montenegro Shipping Lines, San Miguel Shipping and Lighterage, and Chelsea Shipping. Capt. Morales added, “The need for an integrated relationship between seafarers and classification society is necessary to maintain quality and safety within the maritime shipping industry.

The support of all parties such as shipowners, charterers, insurers, port authorities, classification societies as well as the seafarers is required to ascertain an unbending maritime inspection regime.”

For both parties, ISP is now considered a member of Orient Class as a “strategic partner”.Classification Societies being one of the pillars of maritime safety has contributed exceptionally through their extensive technical expertise and competent experience to the promotion of safer ships and cleaner seas. They work hand in hand with the crew on board in maintaining the ships following the standards to ensure structural strength and watertight integrity of the ship’s hull for the safety of the crew and property at sea.