-
Iris Logistics is planning to expand its intra-Asia service linking the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in April
-
This development will follow once the carrier takes possession of one of its two chartered vessels in April 2023
-
The second chartered vessel will be returned next September for deployment to more ports like Cebu and Davao
Iris Logistics Inc. plans to expand its intra-Asia service next year once it takes possession of two vessels, currently on charter, according to Royal Cargo group chairman and chief executive Michael Raeuber.
The first vessel will be returned in April and will be used for an expanded intra-Asia service connecting the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, Raeuber told reporters on the sidelines of a recent forum hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. Iris Logistics is the shipping division of Royal Cargo.
In August, the 1,118 twenty foot-equivalent unit (TEU) capacity MV Iris Paoay started the new intra-Asia service that calls the ports of Manila, Bangkok, Laemchabang, and Ho Chi Minh.
READ: Iris Logistics sets August launch of intra-Asia service
Raeuber said the service operates fortnightly but can become weekly once the second Iris Logistics vessel completes its charter.
Next September, when the second chartered vessel – Iris Logistics’ third ship – rejoins the fleet, the service can call at more ports like Cebu and Davao, Raeuber said. This may help fix the container imbalance, where imports are concentrated in Manila but much exports are in Mindanao, he added.
Raeuber said the company’s vision is to have bigger vessels with 2,000-TEU capacity to be able to expand Iris Logistics’ services to other regional ports such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. He said the focus is on intra-Asia “because that is where the volume is” and the company’s advocacy is to develop the intra-Asia container shipping sector.
Iris Logistics as a Philippine carrier needs special permits from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to operate overseas. But Raeuber said during his presentation that the company had been informed it won’t need special permits to go international in the future. He did not elaborate.
Last year, Royal Cargo recommended that MARINA Memorandum Circular No. OS-2019-02 be amended to allow Philippine-registered ships to concurrently engage in domestic and international trade.
MARINA MC OS-2019-02 sets out the rules on registration and documentation of ships that are converted permanently for deployment from domestic to international service. – Roumina Pablo
