Customs seizes Harbor Star tugboat

MANILA, Philippines—Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., a leading provider of harbor assistance, lighterage, salvage and towing services in the country, is at odds with the Bureau of Customs over a tugboat importation.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, Harbor Star said it had received from the bureau a seizure order for “MT Propus,” a 32-year-old tugboat, for alleged misdeclaration or under-declaration of import duties.

“It is the position of Harbor Star that the seizure order is null and void since it paid the proper duties and taxes on said importation as evidenced by the certificate of conversion dated 28 May 2013 authorizing the clearance of said tugboat,” the company said.

“Furthermore, there is no pending assessment for additional taxes that should merit the issuance of said seizure order,” the company said.

The seizure of “MT Propus” is not expected to materially affect the operations of Harbor Star, the company said.

Harbor Star, which ended last year with a fleet of 34 vessels operating in 66 ports across the country, is purchasing new vessels for domestic and overseas expansion. This year, it is expanding in five new areas locally – Cebu, Iloilo, Surigao, General Santos and Dumaguete which ideally requires the acquisition of a total of 10 vessels, officials earlier said.