SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - The first ship ever to be built in this free port has not only passed its recent test for seaworthiness, but has performed "well beyond expectations," said an official of South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil.).

M/V Argolikos, a US$60-million container carrier completed by Hanjin here in April, has successfully passed the required sea trial prior to its delivery this month, said Pyeong Jong Yu, manager of HHIC-Phil's Outside Business Department, in a letter to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano Salonga.

The sea trial, conducted in the open sea for three days, was witnessed by representatives of Dioryx Maritime Corp., the Greek shipping firm that ordered Argolikos, and Bureau Veritas, a Paris-based conformity assessment, certification and inspection and testing firm.

Yu said the test actually started at 7 a.m. on May 27 and lasted until 11 a.m. on May 29.

"It is worthy to note that the required speed as per contract is 24.5 knots, but the ship's actual speed is 24.6 knots," Yu told Salonga.

"We are pleased to inform you that the owner's representative on board, and Bureau Veritas, remarked that the ship performed well beyond their expectations," he added.

The Subic-made M/V Argolikos has a gross weight of 41,000 tons, and is 258.9 meters in length, has a width of 32 meters, and a height of 19 meters.

Prior to the sea trial, the container ship has already been issued an attestation from Bureau Veritas, Yu said.

Hanjin has also secured for the ship a cargo ship safety equipment certificate, a complete crew list, and a certificate of competency of the Korean crew from the Busan (Korea) Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, Yu added.

Salonga said the successful sea trial of Argolikos, the first container ship to be built in the country, marks another milestone for SBMA as the agency sets its focus on the growing maritime service and logistics business.

"This is history," remarked Salonga, an engineering graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMC) and former president of the Philippine Shipyard and Engineering Co. (Philseco) in Zambales.

"Cebu is ahead of us (in shipbuilding), but the largest and first container carrier is from Subic.
This is where big ships for exports to other countries are made," Salonga said.

At the same time, Salonga cited the Korean shipbuilder for its speed and efficiency in shipbuilding, pointing out that Argolikos was completed six months ahead of schedule.

Salonga said the ship was supposed to be the first of six units of container vessels lined up for delivery to Diorxy Maritime Corp. starting 2009.

"It is really wonderful. Within only eight months after (Hanjin) laid the keel on September 1, 2007, now the maritime community would learn that the first ship constructed in Subic Bay has already passed the sea trial and would soon be ready for delivery," he said.

"I feel happy that the President's marching order for Subic is being fulfilled," he added, referring to President Arroyo's legacy program of developing Subic and the neighboring Clark Freeport into a globally-competitive service and logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

Salonga also stressed that the Subic shipbuilding industry is now providing jobs to more than 20,000 Filipinos, including indirect hires, and is expected to generate some US$2 to 3.5 billion worth of exports each year.

He added that Subic is now pushing hard towards the goal of building the largest container ship in the world, with a gross tonnage of more or less 100,000 tons. (30)