The Philippine government remains the biggest market for marine transport engine manufacturer Honda Marine and Filipino marine solutions provider Propmech Corp.

Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) and Propmech launched here the Honda BF350, the Japanese brand’s flagship outboard engine, which is a 350 horsepower V8 engine—a first of its kind for Honda Marine.

HPI president Sayaka Arai said on the sidelines of the event that the company sees a big potential in the Philippine market for the BF350 with the country’s island geography and growing demand for outboard motors.

Honda Marine has sold more than 1,000 units of BF350 last year after launching it in Japan, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Propmech director Glenn Tong said this type of engine is suitable with the government's needs, especially in patrolling within the Philippine waters.

“(Y)ou have 20 percent more (efficiency in) distance, time, and operations, which is very useful in the Philippines’ case because sometimes we have to go quite far,” Tong said, adding that BF350 is also running with much lower noise.

Its features are best for patrolling activities of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, he added.

The executive said Propmech has supplied over 1,500 boats to the government, “a proven track record of building vessels that stand the test of time.”

Tong said Propmech remains keen on getting government contracts under the Horizon 3 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, as well as marine transport projects of the Department of Transportation.

Arai said HPI is eyeing to initially sell 100 units of the BF350.

Tong added that Propmech targets carry 50 to 100 BF350 outboard engines for large vessels, and more than the said number for smaller vessels. 

PNA PHOTO