By GENIVI FACTAO

Holcim Philippines Manufacturing Corp. (HPMC) has tapped the Magsaysay owned -Magsaysay Shipmanagement, Inc. (MSI) to manage its fleet of four vessels.

HPMC is a subsidiary of Holcim Philippines, Inc., leading producer of cement and aggregates, which also supplies ready-mix concrete and asphalt and a range of other services.

MSI on the other hand is a member of the Magsaysay Transport & Logistics Group. MSI currently manages 30 vessels. The addition of HPMC’s fleet brings to 34 the total number of vessels managed by MSI.

MSI and Holcim recently signed an agreement for the marine and technical management of the latter’s fleet which consists of two tugboats, and two barges.

The agreement provides full ship management services to Holcim’s fleet which transports cement in bags and bulk from HPMC’s Lugait, Misamis Oriental plant to various ports in the Visayas and Mindanao.

MSI’s fleet consists of product and chemical tankers, petroleum barges, container ships, general cargo ships, fast-ferries, and specialized vessels in the domestic trade.

Aside from ship management services, MSI also provides ship maintenance and repairs, ship inspections, vessel performance monitoring, vessel budgeting and recruitment and manning.

The company is known for its strict adherence to health, safety and environmental protection.

MSI is certified by the International Safety Management (ISM) for complying with the ISM code as prescribed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In addition, MSI has earned the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) certification for its managed vessels by adopting security measures laid down by the IMO.

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (HLCM) was originally incorporated on November 12, 1964 as Hi-Cement Corp.

On January 1, 2000, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the merger of three cement companies, namely, Hi-Cement Corp., Davao Union Cement Corp., and Bacnotan Cement Corp., with Hi-Cement as the surviving entity.