Subic Drydock Corp Ready to Take on More Customers

Subic Drydock Corporation (SubicDock), a company providing ship repair and new building services in this free port, is now ready to take on more customers following its acquisition of another drydocking facility.

SubicDock president Catalino Bondoc said the firm recently acquired the AFDL-21, a small auxiliary floating dry dock, and has installed it at Subic's Bravo Pier alongside the AFDM-5, a medium auxiliary floating dry dock, that the firm brought here last year.

The SFDL-21, which has a length of 200 feet and a beam of 64 feet, has a lifting capacity of 1,000 tons, while the bigger AFDM-5, which has an overall length of 622 feet and an extreme beam of 124 feet, can lift vessels up to 1,000 tons.

"With these two dry docks, we are now able to serve a wider range of vessels and aim to be one of the leaders in the Philippine ship repair industry," Bondoc said during a familiarization tour for shipping agents and prospective clients.

"Our company vision," Bondoc added, "is to be a world-class provider of ship repair, overhauling, installation, fabrication, and port general services."

SubicDock brought the AFDM-5 to its former home in Subic last year after serving at the Guam Shipyard since 1992, when the US Navy towed the dry dock to Guam as it pulled out from the former Subic Naval Base.

The AFDL-21, meanwhile, was transferred to the Philippine Navy in 1961, but was sold to Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. in March 1990. It has been operating here since October last year.

SubicDock has been attracting a growing list of customers, including vessels owned by the US Navy, the North Korean fishing fleet, and Austel Shipping, an Australian firm operating high speed ferries.

The firm has received a 2001 certification of compliance from the RINA Society (Registro Italiano Novale) of Italy, Bondoc said.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano Salonga, who attended the recent briefing, said SubicDocks ship repair facilities boost Subics bid to become a major international maritime center.

"We've got it all here," Salonga said. "Subic has a deep, natural harbor for ships, tax-free environment for business, and skilled but comparatively cheap manpower."

Bondoc said SubicDock is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cabras Marine Corporation, a US-based maritime services organization with over 30 years experience in providing tugboat, salvage, pilot age and waterfront services for the US Navy and commercial ocean-going vessels in Guam and Micronesia.

With the company now in the final stages of completing requirements for ISO 9001:2000 certification, Bondoc said that SubicDock's clients could be assured of the firms capabilities in technical and client support services, ship repair, customer assurance, and on-time product delivery.

Aside from drydocking facilities, Bondoc said SubicDock also has a 100-ton floating derrick crane and all the necessary shop facilities and equipment for various operations and services.

The company also offers comprehensive ship repair, conversion and construction, engineering, mechanical and electrical repair, tugboat and barging services, non-destructive testing, welding, painting and coating services, structural fabrication and lay out, manufacturing and machining, and component refurbishment.

SubicDock also undertakes valves-in shop services, shipboard mechanical and component and valve repairs, governor and injector services, internal combustion engine services, hydraulic services, piping system services, heat exchanger and cooler services, air conditioning and refrigeration, insulation, shipwright and woodworking, temporary services, electric and electronic services, crane rigging, transportation, maintenance, testing and certification, diving services, and occupational health, safety and environmental services.

(PNA)