Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation

Last updated

Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Transport
Founded1994;30 years ago (1994)
Headquarters2F Trans-Asia Bldg, Osmeña Blvd corner M. J. Cuenco Ave,
Cebu City
,
Philippines
Area served
 Philippines
Key people
 Dennis Uy (Chairman)
Chryss Alfonsus V. Damuy (President & CEO)
Shane Anthony G. Arante (General Manager)
Parent Chelsea Logistics & Infrastructure Holdings Corp.
Website online.supercat.ph OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, commonly known as SuperCat, is a brand and part of Chelsea Logistics & Infrastructure Holdings Corp. that operates a fleet of high-speed catamarans (HSC) in the Philippines.

Contents

SuperCat was previously the sister company of SuperFerry, Cebu Ferries and 2GO Travel.

SuperCat operates 10 vessels in 5 ports around the Philippines.

History

Interior of SuperCat 32, bound for Cebu City Inside SC 32.jpg
Interior of SuperCat 32, bound for Cebu City

Batangas - Calapan route is one of the most important shipping routes in the Philippines. During the early 1990s, the route was dominated by a single large shipping company.[ citation needed ] Travelling during those days could take up to 3 hours and be uncomfortable. In 1994, Rodolfo G. Valencia, then Governor of Oriental Mindoro, invited the Aboitiz Group to ply the route. His intention was to bring a more convenient and faster alternative to Mindoro. Under the management of Universal Aboitiz Inc., M/V SuperCat 1, their pioneer vessel, traveled between Batangas and Calapan in only 45 minutes. [ citation needed ]

SuperCat added routes throughout the Visayas Region. High-speed crafts became popular in the Philippines.[ citation needed ] In 1997, Sea Angels (owned by Negros Navigation) merged with Universal Aboitiz and Hong Kong Park View Holdings to form the Philippine Fast Ferry Corporation. [1] SuperCat also acquired the 2 vessels of Waterjet Shipping Corporation (owned by Waterjet Netherlands Antilles). They renamed it as SuperCat 17 (former Waterjet 1) and SuperCat 18 (former Waterjet 2). [2] The merger was eventually dissolved in 2002 and SuperCat became solely owned by Aboitiz. The abolition of the WG&A merger then soon unraveled. SuperCat sacrificed some of its vessels and their corresponding routes in order to sustain its fast craft operations. SuperCat also downsized from 200 to just 100 employees. [1]

From the 1990s to early 2000s, all SuperCat vessels were waterjet-propelled. Due to economic problems, Aboitiz was forced sell ships reducing an original fleet of fourteen down to just seven. [1] [3]

To cope with the soaring fuel prices, SuperCat started replacing their previous fleet with more fuel-efficient vessels. All jet-powered SuperCat HSC vessels were replaced by more fuel efficient vessels using a simple propulsion system. [4]

In commemoration of the Philippine Centennial, SuperCat repainted some of its vessels with a "Philippine Flag Livery"[ dead link ‍].

SuperCat has owned three monohull fast crafts, namely SC 20, 21, and 23.

Sharon Cuneta filmed SuperCat's TV advertisement in both Batangas City and Calapan. The ad was only advertised on board and through local cable networks TV ad in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and Iloilo City.

SuperCat used to have its own exclusive terminal and docking area in Calapan. This was built after the loss of SuperCat 1, where sabotage was suspected. The terminal was eventually demolished after a bigger and better public terminal was opened for use in the second quarter of 2010. SuperCat was sued for mandating an additional terminal fee on top of the fare in Calapan, for use of their newly constructed exclusive terminal. SuperCat was then forced to remove the terminal fee.

In 2012, after Negros Navigation acquired SuperCat's parent company, Aboitiz Transport System, all of SuperCat vessels briefly became part of 2GO Travel. The SuperCat brand was later re-established and became part 2GO Group.

In 2019, SuperCat was acquired by the Dennis Uy-led Udenna Group through its Chelsea Logistics & Infrastructure Holdings Corp. from the 2GO Group. Chelsea Logistics had previously acquired an indirectly ownership of 28.15% of Supercat in 2016 and took over management of SuperCat the same year. [5] [6] At the time Mr. Uy was chairman of the 2GO Group. [5]

Incidents

In September 1994, M/V SuperCat 1 sank near Verde Island. There were no casualties. All passengers were rescued by another RORO vessel.

In May 21, 2023, MV St. Jhudiel, collided with LCT Poseidon 23 in Mactan Channel. There were no casualties.

Fleet

The SuperCat fleet is composed of 11 high-speed catamarans, but they also owned monohulled vessels. [7]

Vessels

NameIMOBuiltEntry of service to the PhilippinesTonnageLengthBreadthNotesImage
St. Nuriel IMO number :  9227089 200024228 m (92 ft)8.5 m (28 ft)St. Nuriel used to be SuperCat 22 and M/V Mt. Samat Ferry 3, which was operated by defunct Philippine fast ferry company, Mt. Samat. The Supercat 22 was built by FBMA Marine Inc. (an Aboitiz Company) in Balamban, Cebu. This vessel uses a simple propulsion system and is fuel-efficient. In July 2010, a second deck was added on her superstructure. On October 26, 2020, St. Nuriel capsized in Batangas port during Typhoon Rolly.
St. Sealthiel IMO number :  9227091 200018028 m (92 ft)8.5 m (28 ft)St. Sealthiel used to be SuperCat 25 & M/V 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 fuel-efficient. She was renamed M/V Smart in South Korea, before ending up with SuperCat. SuperCat 25.jpg
St. Emmanuel IMO number :  8745589 1998201117525 m (82 ft)St. Emmanuel used to be SuperCat 26 and 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. 2GO Travel Catamaran in Iloilo.png
St. Uriel IMO number :  9056210 199222932 m (105 ft)8 m (26 ft)St. Uriel used to be Supercat 23. She uses a simple propulsion system and her engines are fuel efficient. She also offers an open deck accommodation at a more affordable price. Supercat 23 - 1.jpg
St. Jhudiel IMO number :  9135717 1996200818427.7 m (91 ft)9.24 m (30.3 ft)St. Jhudiel used to be SuperCat 30 and Hanseblitz, one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran From 1996 to 2001. She 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. This vessel was built by Lindstol Skips, in Risør, Norway. Unlike the other SuperCat vessels, this vessel is equipped with controllable pitch propellers as its propulsion system. St. Braquiel is her sister ship. Supercat's St. Jhudiel.jpg
St. Braquiel IMO number :  9135705 199229327.94 m (91.7 ft)9.24 m (30.3 ft)St. Braquiel used to be SuperCat 32 and Hansepfeil, one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. From 1996 to 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. This vessel was built by Lindstol Skips, in Risør, nNorway. Unlike the other Supercat vessels, this vessel is equipped with controllable pitch propellers as its propulsion system. St Jhudiel is her sister ship. Supercat 32.jpg
St. Dominic IMO number :  8911815 1990200823834.8 m (114 ft)10 m (33 ft)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. [8] She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots. [9] On October 26, 2020, St. Dominic capsized in Batangas port during Typhoon Rolly. SuperCat 38 at the Port of Tagbilaran.jpg
St. Camael IMO number :  9822920 201727231 m (102 ft)9 m (30 ft)In June and July 2017, Austal Philippines delivered two 30-meter catamarans to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, MV St. Camael and MV St. Sariel. Each of the high speed ferries can carry up to 300 passengers, and can cruise at 25 knots. [10] [11]
St. Sariel IMO number :  9822918 201727231 m (102 ft)9 m (30 ft)
St. Micah IMO number :  9005443 1990201544738 m (125 ft)11 m (36 ft)She was first known as M/V Silangan Express 1. later acquired by SuperCat in 2019.
Sprint 1 IMO number :  9882695 2019202024940.6 m (133 ft)6.2 m (20 ft)She is the first vessel to join the Supercat fleet after Chelsea Logistics Inc. acquired Supercat in 2019. She is also the first Supercat Vessel to have an all female crew aboard.

Former vessels

Supercat 7 Supercat 7.jpg
Supercat 7

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 An assessment of Year One of the Aquino administration (30 June 2011), philippinebusiness.com.ph Archived 2009-08-07 at the Wayback Machine (archived from the original Archived 2009-06-29 at the Wayback Machine on 2011-07-22).
  2. ↑ "Wightlink Ferry Postcards & Photographs". www.simplonpc.co.uk.
  3. ↑ SuperCat attacks Philippine ferry standards (May 1, 2005), allbusiness.com (archived from the original on 2008-03-19),
  4. 1 2 SuperCat buys new vessel for $1.7M (October 17, 2007), supercat.com.ph. (archived from the original Archived 2009-03-19 at the Wayback Machine on 2009-03-19).
  5. 1 2 "2GO exits fastcraft business, sells SuperCat to Chelsea". Ventures Cebu. October 11, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Gonzales, Iris (October 15, 2019). "Chelsea takes over 2GO's SuperCat ferry". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "SuperCat - SuperFerry Travel and Leisure - Our Fleet". Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  8. ↑ Manly Jet Cat Sea Eagle living in Kazakhstan Yacht & Boat 29 June 2011
  9. ↑ Jet Car Withdrawal and Manly Fast Ferry Commencement NSW Ministry of Transport
  10. ↑ "Passenger Express 30". philippines.austal.com. December 7, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Austal Delivers Second High Speed Passenger Ferry to 2GO Philippines". www.austal.com. July 2, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ "M/S ÖREGRUND (1988)". archive.is. September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Jadrolinija - Page 6: Fast Ferries". www.simplonpc.co.uk.
  14. ↑ "FastCat-Ryde - Wightlink - Ferry Postcards & Photographs". www.simplonpc.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "Wightlink Ferry Postcards & Photographs". www.simplonpc.co.uk.
  16. ↑ pp40 | Information Statement - Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. PSE Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology (EDGE) 14 March 2023
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