Philippine shipyards build 4% more vessels in 2024

PH shipyards build 4% more vessels in 2024
Roumina Pablo May 9, 2025 https://portcalls.com/ph-shipyards-build-4-more-vessels-in-2024/

Philippine shipyards built 4% more vessels in 2024 than in 2023, according to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

There were 506 locally constructed vessels (LCVs) last year, up from 485 LCVs in 2023, according to the presentation of MARINA Shipyards Regulation Service director Ramon Hernandez during the recent Shipbuilding Initiative Virtual Seminar hosted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Department of Transportation, and Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines.

Of the 506 LCVs, 484 were for domestic use, an improvement of 4.5% from the 463 LCVs in 2023.

LCVs for export were the same at 22.

In terms of tonnage, LCVs for domestic use had a total of 48,221 gross tonnage (GT) in 2024, higher than the 47,256 GT in 2023; and vessels for export, 1.7 million GT from 681,282 GT in 2023.

Fishing vessels accounted for 183 of the total LCVs for domestic use in 2024, followed by other types of ships at 182. There were also 49 passenger vessels, 46 cargo vessels, 18 tugs/dredgers, four tankers, and two barges.

For LCVs for export, almost all or 21 were bulk carriers; one was a passenger vessel.

Hernandez noted that in terms of production output, 95% of Philippine shipyards are primarily engaged in ship repair and drydocking activities. Fifty-percent of shipyards engaged in shipbuilding for the local market are Class B and Class C shipyards building passenger ships, tankers, fishing vessels, tugboats, and barges.

On the other hand, 5% of the shipyards engaged in the construction of cargo ships by Class A foreign shipyards in the country are for export.

Hernandez noted that the Philippines was once again named as one of the top five shipbuilding nations globally in 2023 after China, Korea, and Japan, with 805,938 GT production output, as per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Review of Maritime Transport Report 2024.

In 2024, MARINA recorded a total of 131 shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) facilities from 123 facilities in 2023.

Of the total, eight are Class A (capable of building ships at least 130 meters in length), 26 are class B (capable of building ships up to 129 meters in length), and 97 are Class C (capable of building ships up to 80 meters in length).

MARINA observed the entry of new players and some shipyards upgrading their capability and capacity from one class to another class, Hernandez said, adding that they are also expecting “to see prospective foreign shipyards to locate in the Philippines hopefully this year.”

MARINA also registered 120 afloat ship repairers, which are service providers without drydocking facilities that undertake repair while the vessel is at berth or at anchorage or at sea, 146 boat builders/repairers that are building boats up to 50 meters in length, and 11 shipbreakers, which are engaged in the dismantling and scrapping of ships.

In terms of shipyard facilities, MARINA in 2024 recorded 112 slipways, 51 building ways and berths, 15 floating docks, five graving docks, and three synchro lifts/lift docks, for a total of 186.

Hernandez said almost 60% of shipyards own or utilize slipways, with majority of Class C shipyards utilizing these for major repair and drydocking of passenger, cargo, and fishing vessels.

Most larger assets or facilities like synchro lifts, graving and floating docks, are owned by Class A and Class B shipyards.

Hernandez noted though that around 66% or 120 of these 186 facilities in the Philippines require rehabilitation as per MARINA’s latest assessment report.

In terms of SBSR workforce, MARINA in 2024 recorded a total of 11,129 personnel, 70% of which are permanent. Among these, 7,097 were employees from shipyards, 2,628 were from the afloat ship repairs, 1,171 from boat builders/repairers, and 233 from shipbreaking entities. There were a total of 8,251 skilled workers.

Ship welders and ship fitters still account for majority or 70% of the SBSR workforce.