Cebu News

The Philippine Coast Guard has declared “fire out” on the ferry Esperanza Star after attending then scene when a distress call was made at 0400 on June 18. The vessel was sailing in the waters of Panglao, Bohol, with 78 passengers and 59 crew onboard when the fire broke out at the aft of the vessel. Those onboard are reported to be safe and without injury after being taken to Bohol.The vessel is operated by Kho Shipping Lines, and the company issued a statement thanking the personnel of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Bohol…

One crew member was killed and three more have been reported injured in a containership fire off the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it responded to a fire aboard the Philippines-flagged General Romulo anchored off Talisay City, Cebu on Sunday.Nineteen of the ship's 20 crew members have been rescued by the Coast Guard, and three of those crew members are being treated for burns. The Coast Guard said it was unable to retrieve the body of the deceased seafarer on board "due to the magnitude of fire prevailing on the vessel".According to initial reports from the Coast Guard…

Fred. Olsen Express has taken delivery of a new high-speed ferry, Bañaderos Express, built by Austal Philippines. Captain Juan Antonio Rojas and the crew of Bañaderos Express formally accepted the vessel from Austal Philippines president and general manager Wayne Murray at a COVID-safe ceremony held at the company’s Balamban, Cebu shipyard.The Austal Auto Express 118 trimaran is the second and final vessel in a A$190 million series ordered by the Canary Islands operator in 2018. The first vessel, Bajamar Express was constructed by Austal Australia and delivered in July 2020.

The second of two Austal Auto Express 118 trimarans constructed for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands has completed sea trials off the coast of Balamban, Cebu, in the Philippines. Launched in April, Bañaderos Express (Austal Hull 395) is planned for delivery in September 2021.Bañaderos Express has achieved contract speed of 37.5 knots during multiple trials, the vessel's builder Austal said. Austal Limited chief executive officer Paddy Gregg said, “Austal’s proven trimaran hull design and integrated smart-ship technology…

Shipping firm Trans-Asia Shipping Lines has launched its new RoPax vessel MV Trans-Asia 21 which will serve the Cebu-Cagayan De Oro-Cebu route in the Philippines.The company, part of Chelsea Group, said that the Japan-built newbuild was part of the group's program to move forward with its commitment "to provide Filipinos a fleet of modern, fuel efficient, clean, and superior quality ships."MV Trans-Asia 21 which measures 123 meters in length and with GRT of approximately 8,800 tons, is Trans-Asia’s 15th vessel and can carry 1,051 passengers.

Austal Philippines in April launched the high-speed trimaran ferry Bañaderos Express for Fred. Olsen Express in Balamban, Cebu.The newbuild is the second in a series of two 118-foot Auto Express ferries ordered by the Canary Islands-based operator under a A$190 million contract that has already seen sister vessel Bajamar Express delivered by Austal Australia in July 2020.Scheduled for delivery in the second half of CY2021, Bañaderos Express is the first vessel to be completed using Austal Philippines’ new floating dry dock…

Four crew members from a cargo ship that ran aground off the southern Philippines have died, while seven have been rescued and a search is continuing for nine others, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.The crew of LCT Cebu Great Ocean abandoned the vessel, which was carrying nickel ore and 2,000 liters of diesel, before it ran aground in Surigao del Norte province on Monday, the coast guard said.The bodies of the four crew members were found after being washed onto the shore…

A cargo ship carrying 20 crew members, nickel ore, and around 2,000 liters of diesel has run aground off the southern Philippine province of Surigao del Norte, the coastguard said on Tuesday.The cause was not immediately known, but the weather was rough in the area due to Typhoon Surigae, which brought winds that reached 195 km (121.17 miles) per hour, with its effects felt in many parts of the eastern Philippines.The coastguard said the crew of LCT Cebu Great Ocean were "nowhere…

It’s home learning, but not as we know it. As children in the UK wave goodbye to home school this World Book Day (March 4), hundreds of pupils in the Philippines are still getting their schoolwork delivered to them – by boat.Schools in the Philippines have been closed and children have been told to stay at home since early 2020 as the islands wait for vaccine rollouts.

Shipbuilding group Austal said its Austal Philippines arm has a 109-meter high-speed catamaran ferry to Fjord Line of Norway.The vehicle-passenger ferry, named FSTR, is said to be the largest aluminum vessel ever constructed in the Philippines. It is currently the largest ferry (by volume) to be constructed by Austal, at any of the company’s shipyards worldwide.Austal CEO, Paddy Gregg, said, “It’s impressive to see a large high speed ferry like this delivered in the best of times…

All 45 passengers and crew members have been rescued from a ferry that caught fire roughly 5.5 nautical miles east off Binongkalan Point, Cebu Thursday night.The Philippine-registered RoRo / passenger ship MV Filipinas Dinagat owned by Cokaliong Shipping Lines was traveling from Cebu City for Palompon, Leyte when the fire erupted on board.By the time the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) arrived on scene to conduct rescue operations, the stricken vessel had become totally engulfed in flames.Immediately…

A new Australian-built passenger ferry bound for service in the Canary Islands was escorted by EU anti-piracy forces as it made its way through one of the world's top piracy hot spots.The first of two new ferries built by Austal Australia for operator Fred. Olsen Express, the 118-meter trimaran fast ferry Bajamar Express requested support of EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta for its along transit the International Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait…

Shipbuilder Austal Australia has delivered a new 118-meter fast ferry to Fred. Olsen Express.The high-speed trimaran ferry Bajamar Express is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a €126 million ($142.8 million) contract in October 2017. The second vessel, Bañaderos Express, is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.Capable of transporting 1,100 passengers and 276 cars at a cruising speed of more than 37 knots, the new trimaran ferries for Fred.

Dutch heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet was hired to help shipbuilder Austal Philippines carry out a full scope load-out and float-off of its largest ever high speed catamaran ferry launched earlier this year.During its conceptualization phase, Mammoet’s engineers proposed a revised methodology that reduced the volume of heavy lifting equipment required to complete the maneuver, helping to bring down costs for the operation. With this, there was not a need to include a long list of equipment…

Japanese shipbuilding major Tsuneishi Shipbuilding delivered the 500th newbuilding in long running bulker range the Tsuneishi Economical Standard Ship (TESS).The TESS64 Aeroline bulker Sarita was delivered to Ugland Shipping by Tsuneshi Heavy Industries (Cebu) in November last year marked the 500th vessel of a TEES design to be delivered."As indicated by its name “TESS”, the TESS series features fuel consumption performance with excellent economy, and high versatility that is easy to use. TESS, our representative brand, has been a favorite with customers since the first ship was completed in 1984," said a press release.While Handymax bulk carriers used to have a deadweight of 36…

Austal Philippines launched Hull 419, a 109 meter high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Fjord Line or Norway at Austal's Balamban shipyard in Cebu.The vehicle-passenger ferry, to be known as FSTR, is the largest aluminium vessel ever launched in the Philippines – and the largest by volume ever built by Austal. It is scheduled to be delivered in the 2nd quarter of CY2020.“This new ship for Fjord Line of Norway is the first of many large, high-speed commercial ferries to be constructed at our newly expanded shipyard in the Philippines," said Austal CEO David Singleton.

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan describes a distinctly upbeat period in the worldwide ferry community – and explains how the global trade association plans to take its support to far-reaching new levels.There are times when the phrase “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics” seems all too true, but here’s an honest number for you – ferries carry a global total of more than 2 billion passengers a year, which is almost on a par with airlines.Hard to believe? Not for those of us in the industry, but almost certainly for many citizens and politicians.

Austal Limited's Philippines shipyard delivered a 50-mcatamaran to Taiwanese Brave Line in what is the company’s first commercial contract in the East Asian country.The catamaran is the first of two 550 passenger Austal-designed vessels being constructed at the company’s Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu. The contract was awarded to Austal by Taiwan’s Brave Line in September 2017. The vessels include an optimized hull form for improved fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the Austal Philippines team was continuing to demonstrate their capabilities of successfully combining Austal’s…

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan explains why the global trade association is poised to take its work to the next level.While I respect the mantra of cautious optimism, I can’t help feeling genuinely excited that 2019 could prove to be a milestone year in the continuing growth of Interferry’s influence as the global voice of the ferry industry. We’ve come a long way since our US origins in 1976 as what was essentially a networking movement, but developments in recent months already suggest we are on course for yet more enhancement of our present-day worldwide networking and lobbying relationships.

Norway-based bulk ship operator and management company Belships has signed an agreement to acquire a 58,700 dwt bulk carrier from Wenaas Shipping AS.The vessel was built at Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc. in the Philippines in 2008, informed a press note from the dry bulk owner.The agreed purchase price is USD 13.0 million, of which half will be paid in cash. The remaining consideration will be settled through a proposed issue of 8,060,650 new Belships shares to the seller of the vessel. The agreed share price in the transaction is NOK 7.00 per share.Belships expects the cash payment to be fully financed within the previously announced financing package.

C Transport Maritime (CTM), the vessel management company in the dry cargo ocean transport industry, announced that four of its current members have added seven more vessels to the Supramax Revenue Sharing Agreement (RSA) in July and August 2019.According to the Monaco-based provider of ship management service, Chandris (Hellas) added the M/V Serene Juniper (57,185 dwt, 2011 built at STX Dalian).D’Amico Group added the M/V Medi Hakata (58,078 dwt, 2014 built at Shin Kurushima) , M/V Medi Manila (57,903 dwt, 2014 built at Tsuneishi Zhoushan), M/V Medi Yokohama (57,905 dwt, 2014 built at Tshuneishi Zhoushan) and the M/V Medi Segesta (58…

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has delivered its first containership newbuilding from its yard in the Cebu, the Philippines.The Philippines yard’s first container vessel, a 1,944 teu Bangkok Max sized ship was delivered on 10 September. The Bangkok Max is the largest size of vessel that can call the port of Bangkok, and the Tsuneishi design is larger than the standard 1,800 teu capacity."Standard Bangkok Max carriers can generally be loaded with about 1,800 20-FT containers, but our new carrier can be loaded with 1,944 containers, one of the highest capacities among Bangkok Max carriers," the shipbuilder said.The ship is equipped with a SOx scrubber to meet heightened SOx emission restrictions…

Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is encouraging shipping companies to deploy ships to missionary routes to enhance the connectivity of the country’s islands.Marina opened new roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) missionary routes for application by shipping operators, in line with its initiative to modernize domestic shipping in support of the development of a national nautical highway system in the Philippines.“The Marina declared 19 missionary routes on 31 January 2019 to further connect various islands between the Central Nautical Highway to the Eastern Nautical Highway or from the Western Nautical Highway to the Central Nautical Highway.