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The Bureau of Customs assured smooth passage for Iris Logistics’ Philippine-flag vessel when it sails for the US
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The M/V Iris Paoay will provide much-needed vessel space for local exporters, hit by COVID-19 induced supply chain problems
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The 1,118-TEU vessel will sail directly to Long Beach on September 20
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Ports of call are Manila, Cebu, Davao and Long Beach Port in Los Angeles
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) assured Iris Logistics, Inc. of smooth passage for the company’s Philippine-flag vessel, sailing to the US to provide much-needed space for local exporters.
Iris Logistics, a subsidiary of logistics solutions company Royal Cargo, recently requested assistance from BOC-Port of Manila for seamless interface between the customs bureau and its US-bound vessel M/V Iris Paoay.
The vessel can carry 1,118 twenty-footers. Ports of call are Manila, Cebu, Davao and Long Beach Port in Los Angeles. In an advisory on September 13, Royal Cargo said M/V Iris Paoay will sail directly to Long Beach on September 20.
During a virtual courtesy call by Iris Logistics and Royal Cargo officials, BOC-POM district collector Michael Angelo Vargas “assured the smooth passage of the first Philippine-flag containerized vessel that will carry export and import laden containers to and from the US,” BOC said in a statement.
Vargas also invited Iris Logistics and Royal Cargo officials for a walk-through to familiarize themselves with the bureau’s processes.
“The Port of Manila is ready to hit the ground running; likewise this would be a big boost for BOC Port of Manila to process goods coming from the USA as currently the bulk of goods that come in POM are from China and the ASEAN region,” Vargas said.
Iris Logistics’ US service is in response to the call of local exporters experiencing shipping difficulties due to COVID-19-induced supply chain issues, including lack of vessel space, soaring freight rates, and container shortage that are resulting in shipment delays and huge losses.
According to a survey released on July 1 by the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., exporters ship mostly westbound, with the US and European countries as main destinations.
READ: Insufficient vessel space PH exporters’ top shipping challenge
Royal Cargo has been attending meetings hosted by the Export Development Council (EDC)-Networking Committee on Transportation and Logistics, which coordinates with exporters and other stakeholders on solutions to their logistics issues.
Royal Cargo group chief executive officer Michael Raeuber in an EDC meeting last August made a presentation on the readiness and capability of Iris Logistics to ship export cargoes. The group reportedly applied for a special permit with the Maritime Industry Authority to allow its domestic vessel to engage in regional operations.
Iris Logistics, Inc. formerly Royal Cargo Lines, Inc., engages in domestic maritime and transport service.
