M/V Immaculate Stars – The NEWEST and the BIGGEST Flagship ROPAX Vessel of Roble Shipping Inc. – Everything you need to know!

What was once a small time Cebu-based shipping player serving the small town of Hilongos, Leyte has proven that with great courage, determination, perseverance and a strong faith to God, you can achieve anything that can propel your company to greater heights. This is the case of Roble Shipping Inc in its quest to serving …

M/V 2GO Maligaya – 2GO’s Next Generation Liner

In May 2021, 2GO Travel inaugurated the M/V 2GO Maligaya, its largest, fastest, and most technologically-advanced RORO-passenger vessel. Her arrival in the Philippines was heralded with much joy and excitement, because it has been several years since 2GO acquired a new vessel, and more than a decade since the Philippine last saw a liner with …

The Miyuki Maru

The Miyuki Maru which is in the Philippines now is one ferry that is lucky to have a long life although she had many owners already. And recently she was given another lease of life although she is already pushing to fifty years in age and of sailing. At the moment, however, I will leave …

The MV Eugene Elson

The MV Eugene Elson of Penafrancia Shipping Corporation of Bicol is one of the oldest ROPAXes (Roll-On, Roll-Off Passenger ship) still sailing in Philippine waters but she is still very reliable and well-appreciated. As a 1965-built ROPAX from Japan she has the looks and lines of the small ROPAX of that era which means she …

Do the Sinkings of the MS Herald of Free Enterprise and MS Estonia Have Any Bearing On Us?

The two named incidents are among the most famous in the maritime world when RORO or ROPAX accidents are mentioned and discussed. The two cases have been used in many times to highlight the weakness of ROROs compared to conventional freighters which feature watertight compartments which the ROROs are sorely lacking (watertight compartments prevent ingress …

A Good Class of Ferry is Going Away Soon

I love speed in ships but maybe not that much and so maybe that is the reason I am not too attached to High Speed Crafts or HSCs. That is also the reason why I tend to look at the size and the engine capacity ratio of a ship and see which is more efficient. …

The Claim of Carlos A. Gothong Lines That They Were First Into ROPAXes Was Most Likely True (But There Was Controversy)

Carlos A. Gothong Lines, Inc. (CAGLI), in their online published history claims they were first into ROROs. The more correct term is probably ROPAX or RORO-Passenger but many people just use the acronym “RORO” and that is what is commonly most understood by many. It was said that when new patriarch Alfredo (Alfred) Gothong went …

The First “Great” Merger: The Failed Saga of WG&A and CFC

When WG&A was formed it was ostensibly to combat the entry of foreign shipping companies on local inter-island routes. That was the time of many so-called “deregulation” initiatives of Fidel V. Ramos. But even then I had doubts about this as an cabotage law was in effect in the Philippines. Cabotage effectively prevents foreign shipping …

The Short Career of the Beautiful Liner M/S St. Francis of Assisi

Image © tagatresse2011/Flickr In the year 1994, the liner wars were already heating up in the Philippine inter-island routes. This was the effect of the liberalization and modernization efforts by the new administration of President Fidel V. Ramos (lest anyone misconstrue it, I would want to make an advance notice to all that I have mixed …

The M/V St. Joan of Arc

Image by Mark Edelson Ocul The MV St. Joan of Arc, of 2GO Travel was previously known as MV SuperFerry 5 in Aboitiz Shipping Company (ASC), WG&A Philippines and Aboitiz Transport System (ATS). She has the unique distinction as being the only liner left that came before the great liner wars spawned by the Great …