Marine transport engine manufacturer Honda Marine treats the Philippines as one of its biggest markets when it comes to selling its Honda BF350, particularly targeting the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy for its patrol in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea.

At the launch of the Honda BF350 in Manila on Wednesday, spearheaded by Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) and Filipino marine solutions provider Propmech Corp., HPI president Sayaka Arai said the seacraft engine is best suited in the Philippine geographical location being an archipelagic country.

For his part, Propmech director Glenn Tong said the type of engine complements the government water assets needs, especially in patrolling within the Philippine waters.

“You 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 runs quietly.

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

To date, Honda Marine released and sold more than 1,000 units of BF350 last year after its launch in Japan, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Propmech, on the other hand, has supplied over 1,500 boats to the government, stating “a proven track record of building vessels that stand the test of time.”

Furthermore, Tong revealed that Propmech remains keen on getting government contracts under the Horizon 3 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, along with the marine transport projects of the Department of Transportation.

Arai said HPI eyes initially selling 100 units of BF350 in the Philippines.