JUST five years into the tug boat and towage business, Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. is now servicing half of the Philippine market.
At the company’s anniversary celebrations last week, Harbor Star director Rodrigo Bella said the company puts a premium on its “safety first” policy.
Added president Daniel L. Pablo, tuggage and towage are a risky business which requires huge capital investment and demands constant attention. It also caters to a very limited market in a very competitive environment.
“Five years ago, we thought starting the business would be suicide. But now, we are ready to compete with the rest and service the needs of all vessels calling at Philippine ports,” he said.
A 100% Filipino-owned company, Harbor Star is the only ISO 9000-certified tug provider in the Philippines. It also offers salvaging, oil spill response, fire fighting, fendering system, buoy construction and diving services.
The company has ten tugboats – Altair, Canopus, Capella, Spica, Rigel, Sirius, Deneb, Wise, Great Phoenix and Regulus – deployed in Manila; Batangas; Bataan; Mauban, Quezon; Subic; Iloilo; Cebu; Cagayan de Oro; Iligan; Davao; and General Santos.
Its vessels are equipped with a decompression chamber (for diving services), portable pump and transrec system (for oil spill response) and other modern tugging and towage facilities.
