THE Philippines is known for being one of the major suppliers of seafarers in the world fleet.
But beyond seafaring, do you know that we also build ships?
In Navas, Aklan, Swerte Grande Ventures Boatyard builds ferries that ply the nautical highways of the Visayas region and Panay Islands.
Last March 25, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), along with the mainstream and maritime media, visited to check how ferries are made, sturdy and safe — by Filipino hands.
According to Rizalito Lanoy, naval architect and manager of Swerte Grande Ventures, as well as a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (Soname), the boatyard can build a maximum of six passenger ferries per year.
These ferries ply the Aklan-Iloilo route with a capacity of 50-70 passengers.
Shipowners spend an estimated P9.5 million for a boat and P20 million for a ferry.
Lanoy said that a vessel can be built in about three to four months.
He added that to keep up with the times of ship modernization, Swerte Grande Ventures is exploring an electric propulsion system with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
These efforts are to address the lack of financial resources of ship owners and boat operators to secure the technologically improved but costly hull electric propulsion system.
The intention to build modern boats also intends to promote the comfort of the riding public.
Swerte Grande Ventures is a 10-year-old cooperative management company owned by Michael Edwin Go.