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The
development of a hybrid trimaran fastcraft passenger-cargo vessel with a multi-engine
and an alternative energy source powered by ocean waves was initiated by the
Aklan State University (ASU)-New Washington Campus in partnership with
Metallica Marine Consultancy, Fabrication and Services. DOST-6
New Washington, Aklan – Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
officials are seeing a lot of potential in local shipbuilders in Aklan, as they
innovate and incorporate clean energy sources into their designs for a hybrid
fastcraft.
DOST secretary Fortunato De la Peña and undersecretary for Research and
Development Dr. Cristina Rowena Guevara recently visited the DOST- Philippine
Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and
Development-funded (PCIEERD) project that seeks to develop a hybrid trimaran
fastcraft passenger-cargo vessel with multi engine and alternative energy
source from ocean waves.
This project was initiated by Aklan State University (ASU)-New
Washington Campus in partnership with Metallica Marine Consultancy, Fabrication
and Services to address the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) call for
modernization to benefit shipbuilders and local community.
During the project visit, Guevara said that she will request DOST-Metals
Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) to help in the
fabrication of pumps that will be used for the prototype vessel while. De la
Peña said he will also request some of their Engineering scholar-graduates to
work on the project.
In his speech, the De la Peña said that marine transportation is close
to his heart. He added that when he assumed the position of being the secretary
of DOST, he immediately conveyed his desire to prioritize marine transportation
in which his main concern is on how to connect the islands of the Philippines
to make it more accessible for the people to move around.
“We would like to attract investors in this particular industry,” said
secretary De la Peña.
“Part of the commercialization effort will be the identification of
practical routes for the trimaran,” he added.
Moreover, the public official expects to build capabilities in Region 6
particularly in the province of Aklan, where Aklan State University is among
the major higher education institutes in this particular field. He expects that
in the future, there will be an academic program that will support the efforts
on shipbuilding.
Furthermore, the secretary hopes that MARINA will be able to come up
with policies that will encourage modernization on this industry. MARINA
promised to provide a technical guide during the construction of the vessel to
ensure that the prototype meets the standards as well as assist during the test
trials of the boat.
“We cannot afford to fail in this project,” De la Peña said citing major
research and development deliverables in the next three to five years, namely
in Health, Agriculture and Industry and Energy.
He further emphasized that industry and energy are his top priority of
the three mentioned fields.
“For industry and energy, I will put this as the Top 1 of the top 3 in
my priority list, we have the marine transportation, space technology,
renewable energy, and our adventure into artificial intelligence,” De la Peña
further said. (Panay News/ Ronda Balita)
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