Secretary Cayetano Welcomes Austal’s Continuing Success in Balamban

26 March 2018 SYDNEY – Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano welcomed Austal’s continuing successful operations in its Balamban Cebu shipyard during the courtesy call of Austal CEO David Singleton on March 16. He expressed appreciation for Austal’s role in helping transform lives in the Balamban community. He also commended Austal for its strict adherence to labor laws and its safety record in its Cebu shipyard.

Secretary Cayetano underscored that Austal’s Balamban story showcased the robustness of Philippines-Australia relations, which capitalizes on the countries’ strengths, including the highly-educated and highly-skilled, proficient Filipinos, the strength of the country’s shipbuilding industry, and the advanced design and manufacturing capabilities in Australia.

Secretary Cayetano was accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, DFA Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, Philippine Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz and Trade Attaché Kenneth Yap.

Secretary Cayetano welcomed the increasing demand for high-speed vessels manufactured at the Balamban shipyard, which will help fuel the growth of the local economy and the country’s shipbuilding industry. The shipyard now employs more than 300 highly-skilled Filipinos who benefit from technology mentors brought in by Austral from its Perth, Western Australia headquarters. Austal plans to expand the capacity of its Balamban shipyard in order to do advanced manufacturing on the vessels.

Austal CEO David Singleton stated that Austal is proud of the skills and professionalism of the Filipinos working in its shipyard and that the company seeks to continuously transfer technology and capability to the Philippines. Among others, it sends its graduate engineers to the shipyard to train and support the Filipino workers.

Austal is a global shipbuilder which designs, constructs and supports advanced defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators. The 120,000 sqm. shipyard, which commenced operations in February 2012, is now Austal Group’s global centre for advanced commercial vessel design, development and construction for both local and international service contracts. The shipyard delivered its first vessel, a 27-meter Tri Swath Wind Support Farm Vessel to the UK for Turbine Transfers Limited in January 2013. Since then, it has manufactured for French Polynesia, Abu Dhabi and Azerbaijan, among others. END

For more information, visit www.canberrape.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philembassy.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia/.