Batangas Bay Carriers, Inc. (BBCI), a member of the Magsaysay Transport & Logistics Group, recently played host to its charterers, Chevron Philippines, Inc. in a dinner to celebrate the inauguration of the newbuilding M/T “Star Sirius,” a 1,875 deadweight ton double hull tanker-barge built by Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc.

MT “Star Sirius” is Magsaysay’s first newbuilding double-hull tanker-barge aimed at supporting the program of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Regulation 13, Annex 1 of MARPOL, that all tankers carrying black petroleum products be of double hull construction by 2008.

MT “Star Sirius” can attain an average speed of 9.5 knots.

The vessel is designed and capable to load and discharge black petroleum such as Crack Regular Fuel Oil (CrRFO), Straight Run Fuel Oil (SrRFO), Special Fuel Oil 1100 (SFO1100), and Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (LSFO). Its Segregated Ballast Tanks (SBT) can load up to 85% of its total cargo carrying volume, enabling it to transit Pasig River even at no load condition.

Making it easier for M/T “Star Sirius” to transit through shallow waterways with low-lying bridges is its remarkable retractable wheelhouse that can be hydraulically adjusted up or down by as much as 1.4 meters, thereby complying also with the visibility rules for the navigation bridge. Its air conditioning system is fully centralized and its European-inspired crew cabins, each of which are separate from the rest and providing utmost privacy, are a unique feature for this type of vessel.