President Estrada Graces Keppel Batangas’ New Dock Opening
30 Apr 1999 · No. 2
President Joseph Estrada of the Republic of the Philippines officiated the inauguration of the new 40,000 dwt drydock of Keppel Batangas Shipyard (Keppel Batangas) on 12 February 1999 in the Philippines. He named the new dock, "President Dock".
Keppel Batangas has invested in President Dock, at 600 million Pesos, to complement the other Keppel Philippines' drydocking facilities with capacities ranging from 6,000 deadweight tonnes to 340,000 deadweight tonnes. With this new dock, Keppel Batangas will be able to service medium-sized foreign and domestic vessels and therefore increase its regional competitiveness.
Keppel Batangas was first established by the Keppel Group in 1975 as a greenfield shipyard called Keppel Philippines Shipyard Inc. Keppel Philippines' marine business has since expanded with the acquisition of Keppel Cebu Shipyard Inc, formerly Cebu Shipyard & Engineering Works Inc, and Subic Shipyard & Engineering Inc. Total revenue from these shipyards has grown to 1.4 billion Pesos in 1997, with contributions from the repair of foreign vessels amounting to 638 million Pesos.
"Despite the economic slowdown, we have embarked on this major investment because we are confident that the Philippines can become a preferred destination for ship-repair business," said Mr Loh Wing Siew, Managing Director of Keppel Corporation Limited and Chairman of Keppel Philippines.
