GLIMPSE OF ZAMBOANGA SEAPORTS @ 2011

The Port of Zamboanga is located at the R.T. Lim Boulevard and is one of the busiest ports in the country.

from Wikipedia: 

The Port of Zamboanga, Zamboanga, Philippines, is located on the island of Mindanao, in one of the fastest growing zones in Mindanao, Zamboanga. The Port of Zamboanga consists of a number of ports, all contained by the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (Zamboecozone), otherwise known by its corporate name as the Zamboanga Freeport Authority (ZFA).[1] The Zamboanga International Container Port ranks 2nd in whole of Asia under the 'Super Efficient Ports in Asia' study carried out in 2010 and published in the African Journal of Business Management (Vol. 5(4), pp. 1397-1407) on February 18, 2011.[2][3]

The Port of Zamboanga is one of the Philippines busiest ports alongside Manila, Subic Bay and Cebu. It is a centre for sardine exports to the United States, Europe and the Middle and Far East. Twenty-five shipping lines operate via the port, serviced by four shipyards operating withint eh port boundaries and in Zamboanga City.[1]

The port has nineteen docks, twelve of which are privately owned. The largest dock has capacity for up to 20 vessels, and is operated directly by the Philippine Ports Authority.[1]

Passenger transport is also a major port industry, with an annual passenger throughput exceeding 5.5 million.[4]

The total port area is 156,000 sq.[5

Here is a glimpse of the Zamboanga seaport from the Lantaka and Paseo Del Mar side...

for inter-island trips 

These images were taken from outside the port and not really the life within the port, so this is just a glimpse of the Port of Zamboanga.

These are the scenes in the smaller private docks in the other side of R.T. Lim Boulevard where the fishing boats like the basnig are seen, mostly during sunset.

Basnig is a traditional fishing technique in the Philippines. They lure fish with gas powered lights during the nightly fishing trips. 24 to 30 person crew boats go to sea in the afternoon and return early the following morning.

They use bamboos rods, each of which has a pulley and cable attached to a net, installed at the bow and stern of the boat, two on both sides on the first section of the boat, two on both sides on the mid-section of the boat and two again on the last part of the boat each of the bamboos has a pulley and cable on it. They use huge nets and gas powered lights to attract fish after dark. The captain of the ship observes the water and fish movements under the boat and then asks the crew to get ready. The central lights are turned off, but those on the bow and stern remain on in order to ensure the fish will stay under the boat but move toward the bow and stern.

The captain estimates how deep the net should go and then the crew members working each pole, two to pull the ropes and one to brake, lower the nets to the depth he orders. When the nets are lowered, the Makinista turns on the lights, one by one, now from the bow and stern to the midsection, then turns them off in the same order.

Each crew member has individual responsibilities; a Pilot or Piloto is the head of the boat, and has one or two subordinates, Segunda Piloto (2nd Pilot) and sometime Tricera Piloto (3rd Pilot). The Makinista (machinist) is in charge of the motor and the electrical system, Timonil is like the driver, Taong Lambat in charge with the net in case of damage, Kusinero the Cook, and the rest are just crew members.

 

 

Basnig

This is also the Port of Zamboanga City at dusk as we view the larger ships from the R.T. Lim Boulevard.

These are glimpses of the Port of Zamboanga City and the smaller docks.