Company Profile
VIRJEN Shipping Corporation (VSC) is a company duly licensed and authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to engage in the business of manning ocean-going vessels. As one of the pioneers in the manning industry, it is one of the respected leaders in the field.
Starting with the small office at the Magsaysay Building on Kalaw St. in Ermita, Manila, VSC was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 8, 1972 as Virjen Shipping and Marine Services, Incorporated. The company formally commenced its pioneering manning and shipping agency service on August 15, 1972. Its main corporate purposes include owning and/or managing vessels for international and domestic trade, provide shipping services to foreign ship-owners, particularly the supply of Filipino seamen to man vessels, and to render agency services to vessels calling at Philippine ports.
During its four decades of operation spanning three generations in its management, VSC and its related affiliates have accumulated a wealth of experience in its shipping and manning operations such that at present, its business activities already include the following:
- Providing crew to various vessels such as loggers, bulkers from handy size to VLCCs, containers, pure car and truck carriers, multi-purpose dry cargo ships, chemical, crude and clean oil tankers and cement carriers;
- Bareboat Charter (Accredited by Maritime Industry Authority) and Time Charter Operations;
- Ship Agency services to vessels calling Philippine ports;
- Ship chartering and Cargo Brokers; and
- Ship Sale and Purchase Brokers.
At present, the Company has a sizable fleet of officers and crew serving on VLCCs, product tankers, chemical tankers, various type and size of bulk carriers and pure car carriers. The Company is staffed with highly qualified and competent personnel with wide and long experience in various aspects of shipping operations. Likewise, the Company’s Top Management is widely involved in furthering industry interests and concerns as an active and respected member of the core manning associations in the industry. Virjen’s incumbent President, Ericson M. Marquez, son of Virjen’s founding President, Ponciano C. Marquez (who is an equally respected leader of the shipping industry until his retirement in 1995) is now one of the acknowledged leaders and a pillar and spokesperson of the manning industry. He served as President of the Filipino Association for Mariner’s Employment (FAME) and the Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Ship Managers (PAMAS). He is now the incumbent Vice Chairman of the Joint Manning Group (JMG), the association of Five (5) Shipping and Manning Associations which represents the private sector in tripartite meetings with the government and labour sectors.
