Marina promotes PH-designed RoRo

Marina promotes PH-designed RoRo
GENIVI FACTAO June 12, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/marina-promotes-ph-designed-roro/568029/

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has encouraged local shipbuilders to manufacture Filipino designed Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ships to meet the demands of the domestic shipping industry.

Marina Officer in Charge Vice Adm. Narciso Vingson Jr. said Marina sees the necessity to market more the capabilities of the Philippines to manufacture ships. He added that the country had an ideal location and competent manpower for shipbuilding.

Vingson said they already had the prototype ships of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. and Starlite Ferries.
Marina OIC administrator Narciso Vingson Jr. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

“Starlite’s ship is a Filipino-designed ship, but it was built in Japan, while Archipelago’s ship was built in China,” he explained.

He said their ships were designed locally, but were built abroad because of the lack of raw materials here. He added that shipbuilding is a capital-intensive business.

“Our shipyards can do it. But the problem is, we don’t have steel, and it’s too expensive to import. It will take time to develop our own steel industry,” he said.

“Before, we have incentivized importations. Now, we incentivize the local shipbuilding industry, because one of our priority programs is the modernization of domestic shipbuilding,” he added.

Vingson expected a booming business for the shipyard operators in the country.

“The money now is in shipbuilding, and not anymore in ship repair,” Vingson said.