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The whole is the sum of its parts. This year’s Vessel Recognition Awards shall also honor across all ranks, crew members who have displayed exemplary performance above and beyond their expected area of responsibility.

Apart from the Vessel and Master of the Year, this year’s awards shall seek out commendable Deck crew from Chief Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer, Radio Officer, Able Seaman to Cook. A Chief Engineer down to Fourth Engineer, where applicable, including an Oiler shall also be included in this year’s recognition.

Fleet managers describe this vessel and its team as a truly cohesive unit, with voyages relatively smooth despite being punctuated with tangible challenges along the way. Amidst happy faces during the celebration of its 100^th voyage, the crew and managers of M/T Matipuno can proudly say they have lived up to their vessel’s formidable name.

Its maiden voyage back in 2017 was to serve contract requirements of Seaoil in Zamboanga. The martial law status in the area meant young Matipuno early on had to deal with issues related to operations and stricter security at the ports. Being assigned so far down South, these conditions pushed its crew to be independent. It proved to be fortuitous that the vessel had at its helm, Captains Herculano Capute and Danilo Adame who were described as very fatherly and brotherly, while Captains Allan Albuera and Cesar Mandapat considered as new blood, introduced learnings taken from their years of experience from international vessels.

Representatives from the crew, fleet and marketing management headed to the Bataan dock and boarded Matipuno last June 20 to celebrate with the crew, bearing souvenir shirts for everyone to honor the vessel’s remarkable journey.

“You can’t discover new oceans unless you lose sight of the shore.” No other saying would be as appropriate to describe the recent wave of change that has come HSTC’s way. The company has always been proud of their humble beginnings, allowing a look back to fully appreciate how far they’vee come. From 1 rented barge to a fleet of 22 vessels, from treading Philippine coastlines to venturing off to deeper oceans, HSTC has set sail for the world.

Last July 11, 2019 our biggest vessel yet, 13,000 tonner M/T Masagana was unveiled to an excited crowd including the Chairman, Board of Directors and SBU heads. Also invited to witness the milestone occasion were guests from BDO, Coastguard District Commander Geofrey Espaldon, Commodore Art Abu of the Calabarzon region and representatives of Top Ever Manning Agency.

Formerly named Sichem Paris, HSTC’s first regional vessel’s new name Masagana, perfectly captures the abundant opportunities that continue to bless the company. M/T Masagana set sail last July 19^th and has since travelled to Malaysia and Singapore serving requirements for palm oil and bunkering.