Puneet Varma (Editor)

2GO

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Industry
  
Shipping

Parent
  
2GO Group

Founded
  
Aboitiz

2GO

Headquarters
  
Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Key people
  
Francis C. Chua, Chairman & Independent Director Sulficio O. Tagud Jr., President & CEO Stephen Rey R. Tagud, Vice President for Passage & CCO Fred S. Pajo, Executive Vice President & COO

2GO, formally 2GO Travel, is a passenger ferry company which is based in Manila, Philippines and part of 2GO Group, a listed company owned by the Chinese government through the China-Asean Investment Cooperation Fund. It is the largest ferry company in the Philippines with its main hub located in Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Pier 15 in the Manila South Harbor.

Contents

Until 2012, 2GO was known as Negros Navigation. It changed its name following a significant realignment of ferry transportation in the Philippines in which long-standing companies SuperFerry, Cebu Ferries and SuperCat merged into SuperFerry, under the Aboitiz Transport System. SuperFerry was purchased by Negros Navigation, in December 2010, for US$105 million. At the same time, a unit of China-Asean Investment Cooperation Fund, a Netherlands-based, private equity firm wholly owned by the Chinese government, took a controlling stake in Negros Navigation through an equity infusion. Because Negros Navigation was a privately held firm the exact amount invested by the Fund was not disclosed.

2GO has one of the most modern shipping fleets in the Philippines and operates the largest fleet of inter-island vessels in the country.

Sulficio O. Tagud, Jr is 2GO Group chairman and president of the 2GO Group.

Destinations

The following ports of call are served by 2GO Travel:

  • Luzon
  • Manila, Metro Manila
  • Batangas City, Batangas
  • Odiongan, Romblon
  • Puerto Princesa, Palawan
  • Coron, Palawan
  • Visayas
  • Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
  • Caticlan, Malay, Aklan (Gateway to Boracay)
  • Cebu City, Cebu
  • Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
  • Iloilo City, Iloilo
  • Ormoc City, Leyte
  • Tagbilaran City, Bohol
  • Mindanao
  • Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (via Nasipit)
  • Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
  • Iligan City, Lanao del Norte
  • Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
  • Surigao City, Surigao del Norte
  • Zamboanga City, Zamboanga
  • Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
  • MV St. Thomas Aquinas

    On August 16, 2013, at 9 pm as it approached Cebu City's harbor, the MV St. Thomas Aquinas, formerly SuperFerry 2 collided with the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete of Sulpicio Lines and sank in 100 feet deep off Talisay, Cebu. The ship was carrying 831 people—715 passengers and 116 crewmembers. 629 people were rescued immediately and as of August 17, 2013, 31 bodies have been recovered leaving 172 unaccounted for. The Sulpicio Express Siete with 36 crew members on board did not sink and returned safely to port. It had a large hole in its bow above the water line, clearly visible in news photos.

    Vessels

    2GO acquired in the merger vessels from all four brands. The vessels now carry names derived from one of the many Our Lady titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, or from Catholic saints. The ships have now been repainted in the 2GO colors and sport the 2GO Travel logo.

    Vessels acquired from SuperFerry and Negros Navigation

    These former SuperFerry and Negros Navigation vessels are now part of the 2GO Travel fleet (as of 2013):

  • St. Joan of Arc (formerly SuperFerry 5)
  • St. Pope John Paul II (formerly SuperFerry 12)
  • St. Gregory the Great (formerly SuperFerry 20 (formerly MV Sunflower Kogane acquired from Diamond Ferry)
  • St. Leo the Great (formerly SuperFerry 21 (formerly MV Sunflower Nishiki acquired from Kansai Kisen)
  • St. Michael the Archangel (former flagship of Negros Navigation)
  • San Agustin Uno
  • San Rafael Uno
  • San Rafael Dos
  • San Pedro Calungsod
  • San Lorenzo Ruiz Uno
  • St.Therese of the Child Jesus (formerly SuperFerry 16)
  • Vessels acquired from Cebu Ferries

    Cebu Ferries operated the following vessels that are now part of the 2GO fleet:

  • St. Augustine of Hippo (formerly Cebu Ferry 1)
  • St. Anthony de Padua (formerly Cebu Ferry 2)
  • St. Ignatius of Loyola (formerly Cebu Ferry 3)
  • Vessels acquired from SuperCat

    SuperCat operated these vessels that are now part of the 2GO fleet:

    St. Nuriel (formerly Supercat 22)

    St. Nuriel used to be SuperCat 22 & MV Mt. Samat Ferry 3, which was operated by defunct Philippine fast ferry company, Mt. Samat. Supercat 22 was built by FBMA Marine Inc. (an Aboitiz Company) in Balamban, Cebu. This vessel uses a simple propulsion system, and is very fuel efficient. In July 2010, a second deck was added. She is currently serving the Batangas - Calapan route.

    St. Sealthiel (formerly SuperCat 25)

    St. Sealthiel used to be SuperCat 25 & MV Mt. Samat Ferry 5, which was operated by defunct Philippine fast ferry company, Mt. Samat. She is a sister ship of Supercat 22 and was also built by FBMA Marine Inc. (an Aboitiz Company) in Balamban, Cebu. Similarly this vessel uses a simple propulsion system, and is very fuel efficient. She was renamed as MV Smart in Korea, before ending up with Supercat Fast Ferry Corp. She is currently serving the Iloilo-Bacolod route

    St. Emmanuel (formerly SuperCat 26)

    SuperCat 26 was the former SeaCat from Australia, traveling Perth to Rottnest Island. She has twin Caterpillar C32 engines and can cruise up to 28 knots. She's 25m in length. She is currently serving the Bacolod-Iloilo route in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

    St. Jhudiel (formerly SuperCat 30)

    St. Jhudiel used to be SuperCat 30 and was one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hanseblitz from 1996–2001 and was reconfigured and elevated its Captain's bridge at Abeking & Rasmussen, and later on acquired by Transtejo in Lisboa, Portugal renamed Bairro Alto until early 2008. She has two decks. The upper deck offers business class accommodation for elite passengers. This vessel was built by Lindstol Skips, in Risor Norway. Unlike the other Supercat vessels, this vessel is equipped with controllable pitch propellers as its propulsion system. Supercat 32 is her sister ship. She is currently serving the Cebu - Tagbilaran route.

    St. Braquiel (formerly SuperCat 32)

    St. Braquiel used to be SuperCat 32 and was one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hansepfeil from 1996–2002 and was reconfigured and elevated its Captain's bridge at Abeking & Rasmussen, and later on acquired by Transtejo in Lisboa, Portugal renamed Parque das Nacoes until early 2008. She has two decks. The upper deck offers business class accommodation for elite passengers. This vessel was built by Lindstol Skips, in Risor Norway. Unlike the other Supercat vessels, this vessel is equipped with controllable pitch propellers as its propulsion system. Supercat 30 [1] is her sister ship. She is currently serving the Cebu-Ormoc route.

    St. Benedict (formerly SuperCat 36)

    St. Benedict, formerly known as SuperCat 36 and Blue Fin, is one of three Sydney JetCats purchased in 1990 for the Manly service to replace hydrofoils. She operated from Manly to Circular Quay from 1990 until 2008 before being sold to Supercat. She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots.

    St. Dominic (formerly SuperCat 38)

    St. Dominic, formerly known as SuperCat 38 and Sir David Martin, is one of three Sydney JetCats purchased for the Manly service to replace hydrofoils. She operated from Manly to Circular Quay from 1990 until 2008 before being sold to Supercat. She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots. she is currently serving the same Iloilo-Bacolod route

    New Vessels of 2GO

    Ship/(s) that has been acquired by 2GO Travel as of March 2014:

  • St. Francis Xavier (former MV Star Diamond and MV Jiadong Pearl)
  • St. Therese of the Child Jesus former SuperFerry 16 sold to Stena Daea Lines in 2007 and renamed as New Blue Ocean sailing South Korea - Russia. She was reacquired by 2Go Group in 2015 to become St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
  • Former Vessels of 2GO

    Ship/(s) that was part of 2GO fleets that were retired, sunk, or sold.

  • [2] Sta. Rita de Casia (formerly Superferry 1), sold to an Indonesian shipping company, renamed as KM Mutiara Persada 1
  • [3] MV St. Thomas Aquinas (formerly Superferry 2), sunk last August 16, 2013 in Talisay City, Cebu after a collision with MV Sulpicio Express Siete.
  • [4] St. Joseph the Worker (former fleet of Negros Navigation, sold to breakers)
  • [5] St. Peter the Apostle (former fleet of Negros Navigation, sold to breakers)
  • St. Uriel (formerly SuperCat 23) was the only high speed monohull vessel in the Supercat fleet. She uses a simple propulsion system and her fuel is efficient. She also offers an open deck accommodation at a more affordable price. She is currently in Cebu awaiting her fate after news that she was sold.
  • References

    2GO Wikipedia