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Aznar Shipping was granted pioneer status by the Maritime Industry Authority for its vessel deployed to serve the route between Danao in Cebu and Isabel, Leyte
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The incentive includes six-year route protection from start of operations in early 2026 with four trips daily
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MV Alexander Aznar I can accommodate up to 340 passengers per trip and 14 units of 10-wheeler wing vans and 24 four-wheel vehicles, equivalent to 22 units of 10-wheeler wing vans per trip
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In the mid-term, ASC plans to add three more roll-on/roll-off ferries as part of its fleet expansion modernization program
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ASC is also eyeing to deploy vessels in the Bacolod-Iloilo route and other lanes within the Visayas
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The company also aims to put up its own shipyard facility
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For the first quarter of 2026, ASC recorded a net income of almost P17 million, 114% higher year-on-year, while revenue grew 80% to P81 million despite a “more difficult environment” due to higher fuel prices
Cebu-based carrier Aznar Shipping Corp. (ASC) was granted pioneer status by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for its brand-new vessel deployed on the Danao, Cebu–Isabel, Leyte route.
The status was granted under MARINA Memorandum Circular No. DS-2025-04, which provides incentives for domestic fleet modernization by encouraging shipowners and operators to deploy brand-new, safer, and more efficient vessels on authorized routes. The incentive includes six-year route protection from start of operations in early 2026, which means the company will have no competition unless there is insufficient capacity or a pressing national economic need.
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)-classed MV Alexander Aznar I offers four trips daily, departing Isabel at 6 am and 5 pm, and from Danao at 11 am and 11 pm.
“Through this IACS-class vessel, we are strengthening our ability to serve the growing movement of people, vehicles, and goods between Cebu and Leyte. MV Alexander Aznar I allows us to reduce travel time from four hours to three hours, increase capacity, and provide a more reliable transport option for passengers and cargo customers,” ASC president and chief executive officer Kyle Alexander Aznar said in a statement.
MV Alexander Aznar I can accommodate up to 340 passengers per trip, around 60% higher than the combined passenger capacity of previously deployed vessels by ASC. It can also carry 14 units of 10-wheeler wing vans and 24 four-wheel vehicles, equivalent to 22 units of 10-wheeler wing vans per trip, representing a 37.5% increase in cargo-carrying capacity compared with ASC’s older vessels.
The dedicated allocation for four-wheel vehicles also better matches the route’s historical cargo mix, where around 70% of cargo traffic consists of four-wheel vehicles.
“As the Visayas continues to grow, inter-island shipping will remain crucial in connecting key growth centers. Our goal is to continue serving as a sea bridge for the region by investing in vessels and routes that support safer travel, stronger cargo movement, and more reliable connectivity,” Aznar said.
READ: Cebu ports record 11% jump in Jan 2026 cargo volume
Under MARINA rules, IACS-classed ships refer to vessels that adhere to high-quality standards of design, construction, and maintenance of IACS, the highest global benchmark for maritime safety and environmental protection.
Aznar said the deployment of MV Alexander Aznar I forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen short-haul, high-frequency route operations across the Visayas, where reliable maritime transport remains essential to trade, tourism, and everyday mobility.
Fleet expansion, modernization
In the next three to five years, ASC plans to add three more IACS-classed roll-on/roll-off ferries as part of its fleet expansion modernization program while eyeing more routes in the country’s central islands.
ASC is acquiring three 72-meter IACS-classed roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferries from China to increase its fleet to 13 vessels, Aznar told media in a briefing on June 15.
These vessels will be able to handle 300 passengers and around 20 trucks each, which are higher in capacity than the carrier’s older RoRo vessels.
The carrier’s fleet modernization program started in 2016 and now includes five new vessels with MV Alexander Aznar I as the latest.
Last year, ASC deployed M/V Manoling 6, its biggest landing craft tank that can handle 35 rolling cargoes and augments the operations of the carrier’s other vessels in the Tabuelan, Cebu–Escalante, Negros Occidental route.
ASC is also eyeing to deploy vessels in the Bacolod-Iloilo route, which is based on the requirements of its customers.
“That’s where I will follow because it’s already low-lying fruit because… I’m already serving them in one segment of the nautical highway, so it’s not so far-fetched for me to transfer to the next segment and connect them there,” he said.
After Negros, Aznar said their customers go to Iloilo. “So that could be a natural progression for us. Why don’t we connect them Bacolod to Iloilo? Anyway, we’re already connecting them Cebu to Bacolod,” he added.
For the short term, Aznar said they will still be focusing in the Visayas region in terms of routes “because that’s where we see the most growth, where we see the most potential.”
ASC currently has 10 ports of call in Cebu, Leyte, and Negros Occidental.
Own shipyard
Aznar said they are also eyeing to put up their own shipyard facility.
“Once we grow the fleet to a certain size, we will also develop our own shipyard facility,” Aznar said.
Aznar said ASC spends an average of P15 million per drydocking for the size of ships they have. Drydocking is mandatory for all Philippine-registered ships, while classed vessels must undergo it twice every five years.
Aznar said they will initially just be servicing their own ships and eventually expand to cater to other carriers.
These plans come as ASC has “really grown the most” in the last four years, following changes in the company’s management and practices.
Aznar said ASC has been recording higher financial figures in recent years. In 2025, ASC posted a net income of P51.78 million while revenue amounted to P225 million, up 24% year-on-year.
For the first quarter of 2026, ASC recorded a net income of almost P17 million, 114% higher year-on-year, while revenue grew 80% to P81 million, despite a “more difficult environment” due to higher fuel prices. Aznar said they have adjusted their targets for the year as they were expecting lower volumes, but they have maintained and even improved growth during the first quarter.
Aznar noted that the cargo segment – covering basic commodities and raw materials – accounts for 70% of its revenue, while the remaining 30% is the passenger segment.
“So moving forward, I’m still optimistic,” Aznar said, adding that they still expect better volumes this year.— Roumina Pablo
