Ports play an indispensable role in nation building as they are key transshipment facilities for the transport of goods and services, provide direct and indirect employment to surrounding communities, and ensure the sustainability and growth of trade. To be commercially productive, the port should be supported by harbor tugs that can safely and timely dock and undock vessels calling the piers, jetties and terminals.
Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc., a leading integrated maritime service provider in the Philippines, is at the forefront of ensuring reliable port services in the country. Its more than 42 harbor tugboats are deployed throughout out the archipelago operate in more than 70 ports and terminals.
The company derives the bulk of its revenues from six main service lines, namely; harbor assistance, lighterage, towing, salvage, marine construction repair and maintenance works, and other marine services. Other services include oil and chemical spill response, diving and underwater work, and ship and crew management. Harbor Star’s more than 400 personnel consisting of officers, crew, engineers, technical and support staff serve over 300 domestic and international customers.
As part of its immediate plans, Harbor Star is gearing up to participate in the barging operation for a soon-to-be-constructed six-hectare port in Tanza, Cavite that will be owned and operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. It will be the Philippines’ first barge terminal for shipping containers between the Port of Manila and Cavite that could potentially reduce daily truck trips on city roads.
Not limited to the local market, Harbor Star also offers its services internationally. Just this February, M/V Rho Cas, successfully completed the delivery of a barge carrying quay cranes to CaiMep, Vietnam from Oita, Japan. This delivery project was Rho Cas’ first overseas job for 2017.
Recently, Harbor Star’s stockholders approved the company’s plan to raise as much as PHP 1 billion to supports its domestic and international expansion plans and diversification in the next 3 years. The company intends to spend a substantial part of the fund raise to acquire tugboats from Japan for its ASEAN expansion. It is presently looking at Myanmar and Indonesia as potential markets and is further expanding its presence in Malaysia.
For its diversification plans, Harbor Star is looking to enter the renewable energy industry with the end view of providing its current clientele with clean energy.
