Aznar Shipping Corp. has expanded its Western Visayas network with the launch of a Bacolod-Dumangas route, deploying a new roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel to strengthen transport links between Negros and Panay as it pursues a broader fleet and infrastructure expansion.
The company’s brand-new MV Manoling 7 will serve the route connecting BREDCO Port in Bacolod City and the Port of Dumangas in Iloilo, adding capacity for vehicles and cargo moving between two of the region’s major economic centers.
Built and acquired in 2026, the 2,337-gross-ton vessel is among the newest and largest in Aznar Shipping’s fleet. The 16-nautical-mile crossing takes approximately two hours each way.
“The launch of our Bacolod-Dumangas service expands Aznar Shipping’s presence into an important trade corridor connecting Negros and Panay Islands,” said Kyle Alexander Aznar, company president and chief executive.
The ship, the 6th among the vessels named after Aznar’s grandfather, has been in service for three weeks and is already track company targets.
“By deploying Manoling 7 on this route, we are bringing additional capacity to support the movement of vehicles and goods between two of Western Visayas’ major economic centers,” he said.
The new service forms part of the company’s strategy to deploy vessels suited to short-haul inter-island routes, where sailing frequency, reliability and convenient port access are important to passengers and commercial operators.
Aznar Shipping is also preparing for an IPO tentatively scheduled for December, through which it plans to offer up to one billion primary common shares at an indicative maximum price of P0.67 each. The primary offering could raise P670 million in gross proceeds, or approximately P633.81 million net of expenses.
A selling shareholder may offer another 100 million secondary shares through an over-allotment option, potentially bringing the total offer size to P737 million. Proceeds from the secondary shares will go to the selling shareholder.
The company plans to use the IPO proceeds to acquire two additional RORO vessels and establish its own shipyard. The facility is expected to reduce maintenance costs, improve drydocking quality and shorten vessel downtime, while potentially creating a new revenue stream through repair and maintenance services for other shipping operators.
The Bacolod-Dumangas corridor becomes Aznar Shipping’s fifth major inter-island route, expanding a network covering 10 regular ports of call across Cebu, Leyte, Panay and Negros.
Aznar said the cost of operating bigger ships are slightly more than smaller vessels in their fleet but cargo capacity is at least triple, providing a boost to bottomline.
