ACTIVATING PORO POINT AS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CREW CHANGE HUB

By January Guia Caringal-Bawat

On March 31, San Fernando International Seaport in Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ), La Union conducted and processed its first one-stop shop international crew change operations. A total of 19 embarking crew (onsigners) and four disembarking crew (offsigners) from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and Ukraine were processed.

Led by the Philippine Coast Guard Station-La Union and Bureau of Quarantine, representatives from the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), and member agencies of the Office of Strategic Services all gathered to cater to the onsigners and offsigners of MV Fugro Equator.

The crew change of MV Fugro Equator is the first to be processed at the San Fernando International Seaport. Built in 2012, MV Fugro Equator is a special service survey vessel dedicated to carry out offshore survey services.

This comes after the Department of Transportation chose San Fernando International Seaport as one of the Philippines’ 12 crew change hubs because of its strategic and advantageous location.

The one-stop shop for crew change hub was created to help ensure efficient, safe ship operations of seafarers, as well as help address the need for fresh manpower aboard commercial vessels. The PPFZ has since been converted into a thriving economic area, offering a balance of business and leisure. Its strategic location has made it the perfect entry point to the vibrant economies of Southeast Asia, gradually becoming a significant center for business, trade, and tourism.

With this development, PPMC is confident that crew changes at the seaport will benefit not only the seafarers from the country, but from the whole world. Activating its seaport as the country’s major international crew hub will also bring in more economic opportunities for the freeport.