Cebu-based Aznar Shipping Corp. is preparing for a major growth phase, with plans to acquire three new vessels from China over the next three years as it seeks to meet rising cargo demand and expand its footprint across the Visayas.
President and CEO Kyle Alexander Aznar said the company expects the planned acquisitions to triple its carrying capacity and support the opening of new routes, including a potential service linking Cebu and Iloilo.
The vessels will be certified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), a global benchmark for maritime safety and quality. Their addition will expand Aznar Shipping’s fleet beyond its current 10 vessels, three of which were acquired in 2022 under the company’s modernization program.
“We are optimistic about sustaining our growth trajectory,” Aznar told reporters on Monday, citing strong first-quarter results that saw net income more than double despite higher fuel costs.
The expansion comes as inter-island trade and logistics activity continue to recover, fueled by stronger economic activity, tourism, and demand for faster cargo movement across the Visayas.
Aznar Shipping currently serves 10 ports of call connecting Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, and Bantayan Island. The company is evaluating an Iloilo route to tap growing cargo volumes in Western Visayas, one of the country’s emerging economic hubs.
A key driver of the company’s momentum is the deployment of the MV Alexander Aznar I, a newly built IACS-certified vessel that began operations earlier this year. The vessel received pioneer route status from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for the Danao, Cebu–Isabel, Leyte route, granting six years of route protection under MARINA’s incentive program for modern domestic vessels.
The ship has cut travel time between Danao and Isabel to three hours from four, while significantly increasing capacity. It can carry up to 340 passengers per trip, roughly 60 percent more than the vessels it replaced, and accommodate up to 22 equivalent 10-wheeler wing vans, boosting cargo capacity by 37.5 percent.
The planned fleet expansion underscores a broader trend in the domestic shipping industry, where operators are investing in larger and more efficient vessels to capture growing demand while improving connectivity across the archipelago.
