Hanjin starts first Philippine built boxship

Hanjin Heavy Industries, Corp-Philippines, Inc. (HHIC-PI), has started switched on the steel plate cutting machine that signalled the start of its production. The first steel cutting ceremony was held at the newly-built HHIC-PI shipyard at the Redondo Peninsula.

HHIC-PI constructed the shipyard complex inside the 480-hectare land area in the peninsula with a committed investment of $ 1 billion and is expected to create around 30,000 jobs. Already lined-up for production are six units of 4,300-TEU container ships to be delivered to Diorxy Maritime in Greece in 2009. The second production line will be comprised of six units of 4,300-TEU ships intended for NSC Schiffartsgeselhaft of Germany.

Some 4,000 persons have been already employed during the pre-operation and construction phase. This will also create indirect employment to some 30,000 and will bring in close to $3.5 billion worth of export earnings.