MANILA - Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC) is deferring a plan to buy new ships this year, a move which was supposed to replace the vessels that were sold in previous years.

ATSC assistant vice president Andrew Deyto said they would probably buy newer ships in the next two to three years, depending on the market condition.

“If the market will allow, we will replace the ships with new ones so that when the economy rebounds and the travel industry is again vibrant, we are ready,” Deyto said, but did not give details on how many vessels are being planned for acquisition.

The company had been busy importing vessels since last year, but focused more on ships that carry cargo and containers domestically rather than passengers.

Since June last year, it had already chartered three freighter vessels, which Deyto said, was to support the growing demand for the movement of goods in the central and southern part of the country.

Between 2005 and 2007, ATSC—which has the largest fleet of roll-on roll-off passenger vessels in the industry—has sold between 8 to 9 vessels. About four of these ships were put on the block in just a span of six months, a move that even created a shortage of vessels in the country since ATSC sold these at a peak time when cargo vessels were mostly needed.

In September, however, its MV Superferry9 sunk off Zamboanga Peninsula, drowning 10 people. It is not immediately known, however, how the said sinking incident could affect the way the company’s refleeting program.