A 'house-yacht' that's proudly Pinoy

MANILA, Philippines - Here’s one proof that Filipinos can build modern and innovative ships without compromising the safety of passengers—Mahi-Mahi.

The first of its kind in the Philippines, and possibly in the world, the locally constructed Mahi-Mahi looks like a house sitting on a yacht, thus the moniker “house-yacht.” The yacht, now moored at the Manila Yacht Club along Roxas Boulevard, was built by Access Marine, the country’s local shipbuilder which specializes in the design and construction of speed boats, catamarans, yachts, passenger fast crafts and ferries, in partnership with the United Filipino Seafarers, an organization working for the welfare of workers in the maritime industry.

Engineer Nelson Ramirez, president of Access Marine, said Mahi-Mahi was conceptualized and designed by shipbuilder Ed Manuel.

Because it was designed like a house, passengers would feel the ambience of stepping into the luxury and comfort of a cozy home, Ramirez said.

Mahi-Mahi boasts of aesthetically designed interiors in the living room, dining room, kitchen with a countertop and appliances, bedroom and comfort room on its lower deck. There are also comfortable seats in front of the lower deck like a porch where riders can enjoy the panoramic view and the skyline. There is also a “dirty” kitchen at the back on the same level.

A spacious bedroom, a mini-living room and a toilet and bath are also located on the upper deck. There are also an open bed and cushion seats in front where passengers can go sunbathing. Seats and an open-air veranda are at the back of the upper deck.

The roof deck offers a karaoke system where one can sing to one’s heart content.

Manuel said Mahi-Mahi was constructed in only three months at Access Marine’s shipyard in Navotas. “It is not for sale as we intend to make this a showcase of the Filipino’s ingenuity in ship building,” he told The STAR.

The house-yacht is just part of the many projects being lined up by Access Marine, which is in the process of constructing passenger fast crafts that would ply the routes of Bacolod-Iloilo, Cebu-Tagbilaran, Cebu-Ormoc, Cebu-Dumaguete, Batangas-Mindoro, and Manila-Bataan and give existing operators a run for their money because of the distinct fuel consumption that the company-built boats can offer, according to Ramirez.

Access Marine has also launched a two-deck stylish passenger fast craft resembling a catamaran for the Batangas-Calapan route. At least two orders were made for the same type of fast craft to ply the Batangas-Puerto Galera route and the Bacolod-Iloilo trade lane.