BOI approves P684-M shipping project 

The Board of Investments said on Friday that it has approved the registration of the P684-million Surigao shipping project of Aviva Pacific Marine Corp. and Carrascal Nickel Corp. The joint venture firm of Aviva Pacific and Carrascal Nickel is Aviva Pacific Shipping Corp.

 

Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the project will boost the country’s transportation infrastructure investments in the region.

 

The project involves Aviva Pacific Shipping buying and operating landing craft transports, known as LCT in shallow water roll-on roll-off operation.  The BOI said the vessels will have a combined cargo capacity of 14,645 deadweight tonnage and 9,552 gross tonnage.

 

Aviva Pacific Shipping is registered and accredited by the Maritime Industry Authority. It will help facilitate transport of mineral products from mining companies operating in Surigao.

 

Data from the Philippine Ports Authority showed that total cargo throughput or capacity in 2010 was 166 million metric tons (MMT), 11 percent higher than the 150MMT in 2009.

 

Based on the domestic operating fleet inventories of Marina, there are 11,942 merchant vessels currently operating in the country, with 2,125,694 registered gross tonnage, as of June 2011.

 

Merchant vessels operating in the country include those in passenger ferry, passenger cargo, general cargo, cargo ships, container, liquid cargo, barging, tanker, and towing among others. 

 

General cargo/cargo ship containers accounted for 1,470 vessels or 12.31 percent in terms of number of vessels and 38 percent in total gross register tonnage (GRT)–or a ship’s internal volume. A cargo vessel has an average of 528 GRT.

 

Out of 155 nations, the Philippines was ranked 52nd among the world’s best in trade logistics, according to the 2011 World Bank’s Logistics Performance Indicators study. The Philippines was ranked as among the top performers in the lower middle-income category, which also includes India and Mexico. 

 

The WB study said that the three countries’ excellent performance could be attributed to strong public and private sector cooperation and a comprehensive approach in developing services, infrastructure, and logistics. —DVM/VS, GMA News