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Monday, November 21, 2005
Boat-building: A thriving industry
FOR a city known over the world for its succulent tuna, boat building has slowly become a major industry here.
One of mankind's oldest modes of transporting people and goods, across the rivers, seas and continents, the boat has epitomized the resilience and industriousness of the people of General Santos.
For ages, people built boats using woods or logs, like many of the fishermen in this city, dubbed as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines."
But in the last few years, there have been significant improvements of boats that sail in the open seas in search for the bounty of the ocean.
Amazing because these boats manufactured by StoneWorks Specialists International Corp are made of, well, fiberglass that would not break even with the roughest weather condition at the high seas.
"Our boats are built to last for a lifetime," assured Oriel Oral, StoneWorks' plant manager.
Since establishing the plant here four years ago, StoneWorks has changed the landscape of the local tuna fishing industry.
Several tuna fishermen, especially the established ones, have been slowly decommissioning their wooden vessels vice fiberglass boats.
A "good" move actually of StoneWorks' fiberglass boats are that it is lighter by up to 40 percent than the wooden fishing vessels fishermen have been using all these years.
"They can definitely save fuel costs because of the lighter weight of fiberglass boats," Oral said.
But more than the weight, it is the durable quality of fiberglass boats that slowly but surely endearing StoneWorks among its growing customers.
These count among them handline tuna bigwig operator Roger Lim and Frabelle Fishing Corp, the latter operating as far as the waters off Papua New Guinea.
StoneWorks fiberglass boats do not rust and rot, unlike steel or wooden fishing vessels, respectively.
"They feature the most advanced design, materials, construction methods, and safety engineering," said Joseph Yu, StoneWorks account executive.
The company actually produces 69-foot commercial fishing vessels and ferryboats, 29-foot patrol boats, 27-foot leisure boats, 24-foot speedboat, 10 to 35-foot bancas and ambulance boats.
Volvo engines power up these boats but the company is willing to meet the specifications of its customers.
Although a 69-footer tuna long liner costs P4 million, Yu stressed, it is still a sound long-term investment.
"Usually, wooden boats have a lifespan of only two years because it absorbs the water...it rots. To make it last a little longer, you need to repaint it from time to time. That's an added operational cost," he said.
"But with fiberglass boats, there's no need to repaint or worry that it will rot or rust. The seawater won't be absorbed by the fiberglass boats," Yu added.
A lifetime for fiberglass boats means a service that would last up to 50 years, explained Yu when pressed on the company's definition of the word.
For a fiberglass banca or small boat, Yu said, it costs P19,000, which is double the price of a wooden one.
Ordinary fishermen in the Sarangani Bay or in Celebes Sea commonly use bancas.
StoneWorks has been trying to win these ordinary fishermen to patronize the company's fiberglass bancas as it would be more practical for them as the years drag on.
"Again, at the most two years and the wooden bancas would be rendered inutile. Using our boats, however, will be of greater help to them as the years fly despite our somewhat costly price," Yu reiterated.
But abandoning their bancas for fiberglass boats is easy said than done.
"It [use of wooden fishing boats] is an age old tradition but we are not losing hope that we can convert these ordinary fishermen. We are taking our time," Yu said.
He hinted the "environmental friendliness" of their fiberglass boats, beaming that the glass fiber materials are imported.
For years, wooden boats have been partly blamed for the dwindling local tree population.
Oral said there are three primary components in the construction of a boat -- the hull, deck, and stiffener.
"In our boats, all three are built by hand-laid fiberglass. The components are bonded together into a single unitary piece that will hold together under adverse conditions," said Oral.
In producing fiberglass boats, the company observes world-class benchmarks like the Lloyds Register, the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, and the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations standards.
In 2002, StoneWorks was awarded the International Star Award Quality Convention in Geneva for their pioneering fiberglass boat products here.
At least three other companies in the country are involved in producing fiberglass boats.
StoneWorks does not actually limit itself to serving the needs of the local tuna industry.
Oral said the firm built 55 units of fiberglass boats for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources. They were completely delivered in 2003.
Last January, StoneWorks began delivering fiberglass boat hulls for the Pasig Ferry project of the Department of Transportation and Communication to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila roads.
An Australian firm would put up the finishing touches for at least 16 units that the department would field in Pasig River to take in passenger, Uy said.
At StoneWorks, Oral said, they follow the mantra of matching their workers' skills and talents to the ideas of the clients.
That could be best the way to 'boat' for money," he added. (RBS)
(November 21, 2005 issue)
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