Big shipping companies on ‘bad’ list

Not even two of the largest the shipping companies in the Philippines—Aboitiz Transport Corp. and Sulpicio Lines Inc. —have been able to avoid being linked to the country’s appalling maritime safety record.

Last year, the Maritime Industry Authority temporarily grounded Aboitiz after its SuperFerry 9, sank off Zamboanga with almost 1,000 passengers and crew.

Two years ago, Sulpicio Lines was also grounded after its MV Princess of the Stars sank with more than 700 people on board.

Of the all the shipping firms in the country, Sulpicio is perhaps the most problematic. It has been involved in four major maritime disasters, including the 1988 Doña Paz tragedy in 1987, when 4,375 passengers died. That is made history as the worst maritime disaster on record.

Aboitiz shipping

The Aboitiz-led shipping firm has a total fleet of 23 operating vessels as of last year.

Its fleet consists of seven fast crafts under the brand name SuperCat, 10 RoRo/Pax vessels including six under the SuperFerry brand, four vessels under Cebu Ferries and two freighters under the 2GO.

The Aboitiz vessel fleet has a combined gross registered tonnage of about 93,151 metric tons, total passenger capacity of about 15,200 and aggregate cargo capacity (including the chartered freighters) of about 6,014 twenty-foot equivalent units.
SuperFerry vessels are generally larger than the rest of the fleet of ferries.

As of last year, Aboitiz dominates the Philippine sea travel with 49-percent market share in the passage ferry service and 30-percent market share in the passenger fast craft service.

In the freight market, the Aboitiz market share is estimated at 34 percent.

Aboitiz operates in Bacolod, Batangas, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calapan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Nasipit, Ormoc, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Surigao, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga.

Sulpicio Lines

Sulpicio Lines, for its part, operates in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Surigao, Davao, Tacloba, Iligan, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Masbate, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Coron, Ormoc and Ozamis.

Sulpicio Lines owns MV Princess of the Universe, MV Princess of the Pacific, MV Princess of Paradise, MV Princess of New Unity, MV Filipina Princess, MV Tacloban Princess, MV Dipolog Princess, MV Princess of the Caribbean, MV Palawan Princess, MV Cebu Princess and MV Iloilo Princess.

Earlier, the Philippine Shipping Line Association reported that there was a “shortage” of passenger vessels, particularly for long-haul trips, plying local waters. –DARWIN G. AMOJELAR, Manila Times