$22M vessel launched

Source: Sun Star

AFTER witnessing the launch of a 57-meter car and passenger high-speed vessel they have ordered, government officials of the two provinces of New Caledonia vowed to promote the local shipyard that produced the vessel and Filipino workmanship.

President Neko Hnepeune of the Loyalty Islands Province Government and President Philippe Gomes of the Southern Province Government—the two provinces of New Caledonia—said they are “happy and proud” with the completion of the Betico 2, which hit the sea for the first time off the FBMA Marine Inc. slipway in Balamban, Cebu last Saturday.

“Even if we cannot promote it (FBMA Marine), the presence of Betico 2 itself (is a promotion) because it is (going to be) famous (in New Caledonia),” said Hnepeune as translated by Southern Province external affairs advisor Christiane Waneissi.

The $22-million Betico 2 will replace a nine-year-old high-speed vessel that connects the islands in New Caledonia. It can accommodate 356 passengers and 10 vehicles.

Happy, proud

New Caledonia, a French territory, is located in the south Pacific, near Australia and New Zealand. While its economy is driven mainly by mining revenues—25 percent of the world’s nickel resources come from New Caledonia—its tourism industry is also growing.

Gomes said the two provincial governments of New Caledonia are “happy (with) and proud” of the outcome of their choice of shipyard after seeing the “unique talent” and “performance” of the 500 Filipino workers who constructed the vessel at FBMA.

FBMA, a member of the Aboitiz group, was chosen from among eight companies based in Australia, Italy and the Netherlands. The company was the final pick by a group of international maritime experts.

Gomes said an expert from the Department of Maritime in France had reported to him and to Hnepeune after inspecting the construction of the Betico 2 at FBMA that work on the vessel and the conditions at the shipyard in Balamban are according to requirements.

“That report was very important because the cost of the boat is too high, we cannot take the risk of the boat sinking,” he told reporters in a press conference following the Betico 2 launching.

Challenging

The vessel will be owned and operated by Sudiles, a company established by the economic development ministries of the two provinces of New Caledonia.

FBMA president and chief operating officer Douglas Border said the construction of Betico 2 was “quite challenging” because the vessel is designed according to “very strict” French maritime requirements.

“Sudiles was very specific…(it wanted) a strong vessel (that is able to provide) a comfortable (ride),” he said during the same press conference.

Betico 2, which has an aluminum catamaran hull, is designed for the “some of the roughest open sea crossings” in the Pacific. “It has been specifically designed to meet the harsh conditions while complying with some of the toughest European shipping regulations,” according to a statement from FBMA.

FBMA chairman and chief executive officer Roberto Aboitiz said he is “happy and proud” that the company is able to deliver a “quality, safe and strong vessel on time.”

He said he is grateful for the trust of New Caledonia officials in FBMA, and described their choice to hire the Cebu shipyard as a “leap of faith,” considering that they were evaluating proposals from larger international shipmakers.

Work on the Betico 2 began 13 months ago. Saturday’s launch marks the start of trials at sea for the vessel and work on final touches, like furniture and furnishings.

Aboitiz said all the furniture pieces on Betico 2 are locally manufactured. Instrumentations and engines are imported.

Aboitiz also revealed that FBMA is currently constructing two vessels for Wightlink in the United Kingdom and is trying to secure four more projects.

Apart from officials of New Caledonia, Sudiles and the French Embassy in Manila, the Betico 2 launching was also witnessed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.