Chelsea continues fleet expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (Chelsea) of businessman Dennis Uy continues to bolster its fleet of vessels with the upcoming delivery of a new Ro-Ro type passenger ferry.

Chelsea said a 98-meter “M/V Trans-Asia 20” bed/seat RoPax, the group’s 10th brand new RoPax made in Japan, is scheduled to be delivered in October.

The vessel, which can carry a total of 740 passengers, 22 buses, and six trucks, is seen providing better service to Filipinos, a principal objective of Chelsea.

“This shows our serious commitment to support the shipping modernization of the country which is aligned with our belief that Filipinos are entitled to better maritime transport. We expect our fleet expansion program to contribute to our market dominance and to continue to provide an alternative reliable transportation to Filipinos,” Chelsea president and CEO Chryss Alfonsus Damuy said.

Cheslea said construction of another 98-meter bed/seat RoPax which has a gross tonnage of 5,100 and carrying capacity similar to M/V Trans-Asia 20 has also commenced.

It is expected to be finished and delivered by April next year.

The delivery of M/V Trans-Asia 20 later this year would bring Chelsea’s fleet to 89 vessels, including 30 roll on/roll-off passenger vessels, 11 fastcrafts, 15 cargo ships, 12 tankers, 15 tugboats, four barges, and two floating docks through its subsidiaries Chelsea Shipping Corp., Starlite Ferries, Inc., TransAsia Shipping Lines, Incorporated and Fortis Tugs Corp.