[180218.EN.BIZ] Hanjin Unveils First 20,600 TEU Box Ship Made in Subic Bay for CMA CGM

SOUTH Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines Inc (HHIC-Phil) has celebrated the completion of the first 20,600 TEU containership built at the Redondo Peninsula shipyard in the Subic.

The CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery took 1.5 years to build and is the first of three box ships of this size to be constructed for the French shipping line. The two sister ships are "in advanced stages of shipbuilding" at the yard.

The ceremony was attended by government officials, led by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, under whose administration the Hanjin shipyard was launched, Hellenic Shipping News reported.

According to HHIC-Phil president Gwang Suk Chung, the delivery of the Antoine de Saint Exupery "represents a breakthrough in global shipbuilding," and highlighted that "the intensive support of the Philippine government" over the years has given the Korean shipbuilder a robust head start in the country's shipbuilding industry.

HHIC-Phil officials said they have a number of high value commercial vessels on order that are scheduled for delivery either this year or next. The vessels include liquefied petroleum gas carriers and crude-oil carriers. In January last year, the HHIC-Phil marked another milestone with the delivery of Gener8 Hector, the first "very large crude carrier" ever constructed in the Philippines.

In her speech, Ms Arroyo cited the US$2.3 billion investment by HHIC-Phil in the Subic Bay Freeport. She also noted that the Korean firm had also built a massive training facility for local workers.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairwoman Wilma Eisma added: "With the 113 ships that Hanjin has delivered since it began operations in 2007, Hanjin's presence in the Subic Bay Freeport has made the Philippines the fourth-biggest shipbuilding nation in the world."

Source : HKSG.