|
THE
Magsaysay group of companies is eyeing ISO certification
for its 12 shipping companies, including a unit that
transports passengers to Corregidor Island in Bataan.
“I think
it will be worth it when all of the groups are
certified,” Roberto A. Umali, chief operating officer of
Magsaysay Transport and Logistics Group and newly
appointed president of Lorenzo Shipping Corp., told
reporters.
On
Tuesday, two of its subsidiaries in the tanker business—Batangas
Bay Carriers Inc. (BBCI) and Islas Tankers Shipping
Corp. (ITSC)—were awarded the ISO 9001-2000
certification of SGS, bringing to four the number of
ISO-certified Magsaysay-owned firms.
Marine
Fuels Phils. Inc. and NMC Container Lines were the first
two companies in the Magsaysay group to get ISO
certification.
The
certification, which is not expected to generate
additional revenues, Umali said, is the “missing link”
in its operations, since tanker business involves a lot
of safety standards required by both local and
international regulators.
BBCI,
which has four cargo barges serving short routes, is
expected to generate about P155 million in revenue this
year, according to Umali. ITSC, on the other hand,
operates two tankers for nationwide service. Company
officials expect the firm to contribute P180 million in
revenues this year to the group.
The two
companies are modernizing their fleet to comply with the
government’s double-hull policy.
BBCI
used to have 10 barges, but decided to retire the old
ones and convert some into double hull. ITSC, which will
soon have two vessels, including one which is now under
construction in
China,
has sold one of its vessels.
In July
this year the company expects to acquire a new vessel,
to be named Mactan Island, which will then be on
long-term contract with Chevron Corp. |
