Negros Navigation Co., Inc. (NENACO) was one of the oldest domestic shipping companies in the Philippines.[1] It was also one of the largest companies in the shipping business in the Philippines.[2] Its main hub was in Pier 2, Manila North Harbor. In 2012, Its passenger and freight operations merged with Aboitiz Transport System (ATS) brands to form 2GO Travel. It later merged with 2GO Group in 2018.
History
1932 - Negros Navigation incorporated on July 26. Small ferry vessels, "Marapara" and "San Carlos" purchased from Cesar Barrios and company together with their wharf in Silay.
1933 - Delivery of "Princess of Negros
1938 - "Princess of Negros" chartered by U.S. Army, etc. Operations suspended. Meanwhile, Banago wharf in Bacolod City heavily damaged.
1947 - PT boat acquired and named "Princess of Negros". Placed on Iloilo City-Silay route.
1950 - Banago wharf fully restored. Sister company Ledesma Shipping places "Don Julio on Iloilo-Bacolod-Manila route.
1954 - "Don Julio" purchased and placed on Iloilo-Bacolod route. "Florentina" placed on experimental Manila-Cavite ferry route.
1955 - "Florentina recalled to Iloilo-Bacolod route. "Don Julio" placed on Iloilo-Bacolod-Manila route.
1957 - Bacolod office opens.
1960 - Iloilo main office transfers to company-owned building at Muelle Loney, Iloilo,
1961 - New "Princess of Negros" ordered from Hong Kong
1963 - Big fire at Banago wharf. Delivery of "Dona Florentina" brand-new, high speed luxurious and efficient passenger-cargo vessel. Manila office opens at Intramuros. Banago wharf repaired and expanded.
1967 - New "Don Julio" delivered.
1969 - Brand new "Don Vicente delivered
1970 - Rice rations and emergency living allowance started for employees.
1971 - Brand new "Don Juan" delivered. Old "Princess of Panay" sold. Negros Navigation main headquarters moves to Manila. North Harbor operations transferred from Pier 4 to Pier 2.
1972 - Pier 2 Complex (First Modern Passenger Terminal) completed. Head office in Manila transffered to Makati.
1973 - "Connie", a second-hand all-cargo vessel, acquired.
1980 - "Don Juan" is hit by a tanker M/T Tacloban City and sank on April 22. "Santa Maria" acquired.
1981 - "Connie II" acquired.
1983 - "M/S Don Florentina" catches fire. "M/S Sta. Florentina" purchased to take over the Manila-lloilo-Cagayan route.
1987 - Negros Navigation expands business landscape.
1988 - Purchase of "M/S Sta. Ana", a RoRo vessel, aimed to meet the growing volume of passengers and cargo in Western Visayas.
1989 - MARINA approves "M/S Sta. Maria" to ply the Manila-Romblon-lloilo and Manila-Roxas City. Bacolod City routes on a weekly basis and "M/S Sta. Florentina to procced to Cagayan de Oro from Bacolod.
1992 - "M/S Princess of Negros" and "M/S San Paolo" launched.
1994 - Negros Navigation becomes the first shipping company to be listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange.
1995 - A computerized online Cargo Reservation, Booking and Monitoring System is implemented. First fast ferries introduced in the Bacolod and Iloilo routes.
1996 - Banago Wharf becomes fully concretined and an ultra-modern passenger terminal is inaugurated. First and only labor strike in Negros Navigation history is staged illegally.
1997 - Delivery of giant flagship "M/S Mary Queen of Peace".
1999 - Negros Navigation obtains Document of Compliance from ABS-Pacific.
2001 - Negros Navigation main headquarters omved to Manila.
2004 - Negros Navigation delisted upon request of owners. Sulficio Tagud Jr. takes over Negros Navigation helm. Rehabilitation begins.
2008 - "San Agustin Uno (SNA)" vessel was acquired.
2009 - "San Rafael Uno (SR1)" and "San Rafael Dos (SR2)" were launched.
2011 - Delivery of new flagship "M/S St. Michael the Archangel".
2012 - Aboitiz Transport System rebranded to 2GO Group Inc. Negros Navigation's passenger operations were merged with the former ATS brands; SuperFerry, SuperCat, and Cebu Ferries to form 2GO Travel.
2018 - Negros Navigation merged with 2GO Group.
Legacy
St Michael of the Archangel, the last Negros Navigation vessel still operating
Some of Negros Navigation's vessels were transferred to 2GO Travel. St. Michael of the Archangel is the last Negros Navigation vessel that is still operating but it will retire soon because of 2GO's Fleet Modernization Program. The sinking of the M/V Don Juan serves as an inspiration for the grandiose Masskara Festival in Bacolod. Banago Port, Bacolod City built by Negros Navigation during the 1940's is still operating and is used by FastCat for its Bacolod-Dumangas operations.
Destinations
Negros Navigation served the following destinations in their final year, 2012. its main port of call was Manila Other destinations are:
M/V St. Michael the Archangel - She was initially acquired by Negros Navigation in 2011 as their newest (and final) flagship. Before her service in the Philippines, she first served in Japan as the Blue Diamond (Japanese: ブルーダイヤモンド) for Diamond Ferry and in South Korea as Queen Mary for Seaworld Express Ferry. She is the sister ship of MV St. Francis Xavier, also acquired by 2GO in 2014.
M/V St. Joseph the Worker - She previously served as Hankyu no. 24 for Japanese operator Hankyu Ferry. Later she was bought by Negros Navigation in 1999. She was finally sold and scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh in 2014, where she was named MV Joseph for her last voyage to the scrapyard. She is the sister ship of MV St. Peter the Apostle, another ship of Negros Navigation.
M/V St. Peter the Apostle - She is previously known as Hankyu no. 32 for Japanese operator Hankyu Ferry. Later, she was bought by Negros Navigation in 1999. She was retired in 2014 and was sold and scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh. She was renamed MV Peter for her final voyage to the scrapyard. She is the sister ship of MV St. Joseph the Worker
M/V St. Ezekiel Moreno (Retired and sold to breakers)
M/V St. Francis of Assisi (Caught fire in 1999; later sold to breakers)
M/V Mary, Queen of Peace (Retired and sold to Indian breakers, 2008)
M/V San Lorenzo Ruiz (Retired and sold to Indian breakers, 2008)
M/V San Paolo (Sold to breakers)
M/S Santa Florentina (Retired and sold to breakers)
M/S Santa Maria (Sold to
Lite Ferries and renamed to Lite Ferry 8)
M/S Princess of Negros (5th generation) (Retired and sold to breakers)
St. Raphael (Became SuperCat 11 and was later sold overseas)
St. Gabriel (Became SuperCat 12 and was sold overseas)
St. Michael
Angel of Hope
Angel of Freedom
Other Passenger Vessels
M/S Marapara (Sold to Breakers)
M/S Princess of Panay (Sold to breakers)
M/S Princess of Mindoro (Sold to breakers)
M/S Princess of Negros (1st generation (Retired and sold)
M/S Princess of Negros (2nd generation (Retired and sold)
M/S Princess of Negros (3rd generation) (Lost during World War II)
M/S Princess of Negros (4th generation) (Retired and sold to breakers)
M/S Princess of Cebu (Retired and sold)
2GO Travel and SuperCat fleet under Negros Navigation
Although Negros Navigation merged its passenger ferry and freight operations into the newly formed 2GO Travel in 2012, the company itself remained active as a parent company of 2GO Group until 2018 when it merged with 2GO Group. During this period, NN continued to exist as a legal entity while its core operations, including 2GO Travel and SuperCat, became integral parts of the 2GO Group's logistics and transportation services.
2GO Travel
MV "St. Francis Xavier"
M/V St. Francis Xavier - She was first known as the Star Diamond (Japanese: スターダイヤモンド) for the Japanese operator Diamond Ferry. Later, she was sold to overseas operators and was named Jiadong Pearl for the Chinese operator Northeast Asia Ferry & Gwangyang Beech for the Korean operator Gwangyang Ferry before being acquired by 2GO in 2014, as their first major acquisition since the company's foundation in 2012. She is the sister ship of MV St. Michael the Archangel, previously acquired by Negros Navigation in 2011.
"MV St. Therese of Child Jesus" docked at Pier 4, Manila North Harbor.
M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus - She started her career as New Orion (Japanese: ニューおりおん) and later as Ferry Fukuoka (Japanese: フェリーふくおか) for the Japanese operator Meimon Taiyō Ferry. In 2002, she was acquired by then-shipping giant, the WG&A Philippines where she was named as MV SuperFerry 16 to better compete with its archrival, Sulpicio Lines. After a brief service in the Philippines, she was later sold to several foreign operators and renamed as New Quingdao/Queen Quingdao for the Chinese operator CMM Maritime SA and New Blue Ocean for the South Korean operator Stena Daea Line respectively, before eventually re-acquired by 2GO in 2015. She was an example of a rare situation in Philippine shipping where a vessel would be bought back and then returned to its previous operator after being sold overseas. She is one of the few remaining WG&A-era ferry and also the last ex-SuperFerry vessel still in service until in 2024 when she was retired and sold and was later renamed to "Al Jadara".
M/V "St. Pope John Paul II" as M/V "SuperFerry 12"
M/V St. Pope John Paul II - Previously known as the MV SuperFerry 12, she is one of the most well-known vessels in the Philippines, as the then-shipping giant WG&A Philippines acquired the ship in 1996 as their then-newest flagship vessel. Before her service in the Philippines, she previously served in Japan as New Miyako for Hankyu Ferry. She is also the former flagship of the 2GO fleet due to her size. She is the sister ship of MV Princess of the Universe, ironically owned by Sulpicio Lines, one of WG&A's biggest rivals in the Philippine shipping industry. After her long career, she was ultimately retired and scrapped in 2021. She was named MV St. John for her final voyage to a scrapyard in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
M/V "St. Leo the Great" in Manila North Harbor.
M/V St. Leo the Great - Initially acquired by Aboitiz Transport System in 2010 and was named M/V SuperFerry 21 as the company's final major acquisition before the merger in 2012. Before her service in the Philippines, she had previously served as Sun Flower Nishiki for the Japanese operator Kansai Kisen Kaisha/Ferry Sun Flower. She is the sister ship of MV St. Gregory the Great, also acquired by Aboitiz Group but unfortunately was scrapped later after an accident in 2013. She was later retired and sold in 2021 and was renamed MV St. Leo for her final voyage to a scrapyard in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
M/V St. Gregory the Great - She previously served in Japan as Sun Flower Kogane of Kansai Kisen/Ferry Sun Flower. In 2010, she was sold to Aboitiz Transport System and was renamed to M/V SuperFerry 20. However she met an incident in 2013 where she ran aground on a reef within ten (10) nautical miles from Iloilo Port in the vicinity of Siete Pecados. Unfortunately, the company declared her as a total loss, and she was sold and scrapped in 2015. She was renamed MV Gregory for her final voyage to a shipbreaker in China. She is the sister ship of MV St. Leo the Great, also bought by Aboitiz Transport System as MV SuperFerry 21.
M/V "St. Thomas Aquinas"
M/V St. Thomas Aquinas - She started her career in Japan as Ferry Sumiyoshi for Meimon Car Ferry. Later, she was bought by Aboitiz Shipping Corporation and was named MV SuperFerry 2. Unfortunately, she ended her long career when she sank on August 16, 2013, off Cebu Strait near Talisay City, Cebu, after colliding with MV Sulpicio Express Siete, an ice-classed cargo vessel of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation. She is the sister ship of MV St. Joan of Arc, also bought by Aboitiz Shipping Corporation as MV SuperFerry 5.
M/V "St Joan of Arc" as M/V "Superferry 5".
M/V St. Joan of Arc - She previously served in Japan as Ferry Hakozaki later, Ferry Cosmos for Meimon Car Ferry. She was sold to Aboitiz Shipping Corporation in 1992 and was known as MV SuperFerry 5. After her long career, she was finally retired in 2016 and was sold and scrapped at Alang, India. She was renamed MV Joan for her final voyage. She is the sister ship of the ill-fated MV St. Thomas Aquinas, also bought by Aboitiz Shipping Corporation as MV SuperFerry 2.
M/V St. Rita de Casia - Aboitiz Shipping Corporation acquired the ferry in 1989 and was known as MV SuperFerry 1. She is famous for her higher-than-average service speed (at around 20 knots). Before her service in the Philippines, she previously served as Venus for the Japanese operator Kansai Kisen Kaisha. She was later sold to Indonesia and renamed KM Mutiara Persada I. She was later retired in Indonesia and was sold to the local breakers.
M/V "St. Ignatius of Loyola"
M/V St. Ignatius of Loyola - She started her career in Japan as Esan for Donan Jidosha Ferry as a RORO car ferry. She was acquired in 2010 by Aboitiz Transport System thru Cebu Ferries, which is in the middle of their re-fleeting that time. The ferry was then renamed MV Cebu Ferry 3 and modified with an addition of passenger accommodations. Later, she was transferred to 2GO in 2012.
M/V "St. Augustine of Hippo"
M/V St. Augustine of Hippo - She was first served as Ferry Kumano for Nankai Ferry in Japan. In 2007, She was acquired by Aboitiz Transport System using their Cebu Ferries brand for their re-fleeting program, and as a result, she was named MV Cebu Ferry 1 before being transferred to 2GO in 2012. She was pulled out of service in 2024 and was put up for sale.
M/V "St. Anthony de Padua"
M/V St. Anthony de Padua - She formerly served as Asakaze for the Japanese operator Kita Nihon Kaiun. Aboitiz Transport System acquired her in 2009 and was renamed to MV Cebu Ferry 2 before being transferred to 2GO in 2012. She was later retired in 2024 due to engine problems and was renamed to "Almaher".
M/V San Pedro Calungsod - Leased by 2GO in 2014, Returned to its lessor.
M/V San Lorenzo Ruiz Uno - Leased by 2GO in 2014, Returned to its lessor.
M/V St. Nicholas of Myra - Leased by 2GO in 2016, Returned to its lessor.
M/V St. Vincent the Paul - Acquired by ATS in 2009, retired in 2012. She was first known as 2GO 1 and Dubai World under ATS.
M/V St. Martin de Porres - Acquired by ATS in 2009, retired in 2012. She was first known as 2GO 2
SuperCat
St. Nuriel - used to be SuperCat 22 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 very fuel efficient. In July 2010, she was added a second deck. On October 26, 2020, St. Nuriel capsized in Batangas port during the wrath of Typhoon Rolly.
St. Uriel- 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.
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 very fuel efficient. She was renamed as M/V Smart in Korea, before ending up with SuperCat Fast Ferry Corp.
St. Emannuel - formerly known as 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.
St. Jhudiel - used to be SuperCat 30, one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hanseblitz from 1996 to 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. 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. St. Braquiel is her sister ship.
St. Braquiel - used to be SuperCat 32, one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hansepfeil 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 Risor Norway. Unlike the other SuperCat vessels, this vessel is equipped with controllable pitch propellers as its propulsion system. St. Jhudiel is her sister ship.
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.[3] She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots.[4] On October 26, 2020, St. Dominic capsized in Batangas port during the wrath of Typhoon Rolly.
St. Camael and St. Sariel - In June 2017, Austal Philippines delivered the first of two 30-meter catamarans to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, MV St. Camael. Each of the high speed ferries can carry up to 300 passengers, and can cruise at 25 knots.[5] In July 2017, St. Camael's sister ship, MV St. Sariel, was also delivered.[6]
Incidents
On April 22, 1980, MV Don Juan, which was bound for Bacolod City, sank 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Maestre de Campo Island, Romblon after colliding with the oil tanker M/T Tacloban City. Reported casualties were 18 dead and 115 missing, with 745 survivors.[7][8][9] This incident later served as an inspiration for the grandiose MassKara Festival of Bacolod.
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