Hanjin delivers bulk carrier to UK-Australian client

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines  — Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industry and Construction Co. Ltd.-Philippines Inc. (HHIC-Phil) delivered another vessel this month to a multinational client during the naming ceremony of the newly built bulk carrier in its 300-hectare state-of-the-art shipyard here. 

The M/V RTM Cartier, named after a French explorer and the second vessel purchased by Rio Tinto Shipping Ltd., measures 299.9 meters and weighs 204,000 deadweight metric tons. Its homeport is London in the United Kingdom (UK) and its estimated value is $60 million.

During the occasion, HHIC-Phil president Jin Kyu Ahn commended the collaborative efforts and professionalism of those involved in the successful completion of the vessel.

“This new ship is equipped with modern technology and embodied the excellent craftsmanship of Hanjin shipyard’s Filipino workforce,” Jin said.

The event was witnessed by HHIC-Phil senior officials, Rio Tinto’s top executives, and representatives of classification society Lloyd’s Register.

This is the second vessel delivered to Rio Tinto, as it also purchased its first vessel from Hanjin, the M/V Cook, a 204,000 deadweight metric tons bulk carrier, with an estimated value of $60 million that was delivered by the Korean shipbuilder in May 2012.

Rio Tinto Marine is headquartered in Melbourne with worldwide representation. It currently employs 85 shipping professionals. Its principal offices are located in London, Singapore and Montreal with representative offices in Brisbane, Denver, Gladstone, Phalaborwa, Tokyo and Voreppe.

Rio Tinto’s top executive Michael Harvey said in a statement that the British-Australian company “is a leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources. The group’s worldwide operations supply essential minerals and metals that help meet global needs and contribute to improvements in living standards.”

Harvey said sea transportation is an important aspect of Rio Tinto’s business and that bulk cargoes exported from the group’s operations total nearly 245 million tons per annum, representing about 10 percent of the world’s seaborne dry bulk trade. 

In addition, the group moves around 85,000 shipping containers each year, he said.

The HHIC-Phil shipyard has two huge dry docks that can accommodate construction of ultra large vessels. Its dock no. 5 measures 370 x 100 x 12.5 meters, while dock no. 6 measures 550 x 135 x 13.5 meters.

These docks occupy a combined area of 160 hectares complemented by a number of goliath cranes with 600-ton lifting capacity each and 63 production support facilities. The shipyard’s quay wall stretches up to more than four kilometers.  

The Hanjn shipyard currently employs nearly 20,000 local employees and continues to generate more indirect job and business opportunities in surrounding communities in Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga.

Since 2006, the HHIC-Phil has been operating a Skill Development Center at the Industrial Park here to fully equip its workforce with skills in shipbuilding to enable them to attain global competitiveness. 

Just recently, the HHIC-Phil held the groundbreaking of its 30-hectare housing project in Castillejos, Zambales in line with its continuing corporate social responsibility program to uplift the quality of lives of its workers and their families by providing affordable housing packages made possible through the cooperation of Pag-IBIG Fund.

The land is donated by HHIC-Phil to the housing project, which will initially benefit 2,000 employees. 

Since the inauguration of its first-ever Subic-made containership in August 2008, Jin said the HHIC-Phil has delivered 39 vessels to different overseas clients engaged in international shipping and maritime solutions, thus making it a “major contributor to the growth of the Philippine economy.”

Due to the presence of the HHIC-Phil in the country, the Philippines currently ranks as the world’s fourth largest shipbuilding country as per the records of the Maritime Industry Authority, an agency under the Department of Transportation and Communications.