Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Incorporated (TASLI) is a shipping company based in Cebu City, Philippines. It was incorporated on March 25, 1974, under the name of Solar Shipping Lines, Inc.[1] The Chairman of the company is Dennis A. Uy. Trans-Asia Shipping Lines is now managed by the Chelsea Logistics, Corp.
The company took steps towards cargo modernization in 2013, by acquiring almost 8,000 square meters of property within Cebu Pier area, and upgrading operations to include 10-footer container vans while maintaining loose and palletized / break bulk operations to cater to clients' varying needs. By 2015, the company started offering 20-foot container van service for Cebu to Cagayan and Cagayan to Cebu route.
In 2016, the company expanded cargo operations to Manila, with a freighter vessel offering Less Container Cargo (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL) cargo service. Barely 6 months of serving Cebu to Manila and Manila to Cebu route, we now include 40-footer container service.
In December 2016, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation purchased the entire outstanding shares of stocks of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Inc. including its four subsidiaries.[2]
Current Fleet
TASLI operates 9 passenger-cargo vessels and 6 cargo vessels.
M/V Trans-Asia 1 was formerly known as Warrior Spirit until she was acquired by the company in late 2016.
She was built by Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre in their Le Havre yard in France. She was completed in 1980.
She was also the secondary subject of the infamous "Tayog-Tayog" ghost ship, along with M/V Filipinas Iligan of CSLI, which traverse the Ozamis-Cebu route, but in her opposite schedule which was appeared every night around midnight in the vicinity of Lazi, Siquijor.[3]
On July 10, 2019 she was caught fire while under repair at FF Cruz Wharf, Pier 8, Mandaue City, Cebu around 4AM One of the 36 crew got minor injuries.[4][5][6]
M/V Trans-Asia 3 was formerly known as New Shikoku of Shikoku Ferry Line of Japan until it was acquired by the company in 2008. This passenger vessel has a length of 110 meters and can travel up to 20 knots.
A brand new 123 meter Bed/Seat RORO/Passenger ferry, built at Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan and has a capacity 1,085 passengers; she replaced MV Trans-Asia 20 on the Cebu - Cagayan De Oro route.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
A 98 meter RORO/Passenger ferry built at Kegoya Dock in Japan, she was designed to carry 690 passengers and was assigned on Cebu to Cagayan de Oro route. In 2021, she left Trans-Asia fleet and was transferred to its sister company, Starlite Ferries and renamed as MV Starlite Phoenix.
M/V Trans-Asia 5 (Former Flagship)
M/V Trans-Asia 5, former Butuan Bay 1 of Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. (CAGLI). Trans-Asia acquired this ship in the early 2010 and completed reconfiguring the vessel in December 2010 and she serves Cebu to Masbate route as a cargo vessel. Her passenger decks were removed due to Permit Cancellation.
The Trans-Asia 5 dock at Ozamiz Port
She was built by Iwagi Zosen in the Iwagi shipyard for the shipping company Keiyo Kisen and she was completed in February 1989.
M/V Trans-Asia 9
Trans-Asia acquired this ship in early 2012. This ship was the Ferry Kikai of A" Line in Japan, Mabuhay 6 of WG&A Shipping Lines, Our Lady of Good Voyage of Cebu Ferries (later 2Go Travel) and Doña Conchita Sr. of Gothong Southern. She was scrapped in TASLI Wharf at FF.Cruz Mandaue City.
M/V Asia China
The vessel ended its service last February 2013 and sold to Breakers and was scrapped in Cebu shipyard.
M/V Trans-Asia
M/V Trans-Asia was owned by the Sado Kisen Car Ferry of Japan, and was acquired by Trans-Asia/Solar in 1993. M/V Trans-Asia's sister ship is M/V Asia China. The vessel was broken down in Navotas
M/V Asia Malaysia
M/V Asia Malaysia was acquired by Trans-Asia in 1997 and used to serve Cebu City to Iloilo City route. She sank off the coast of Ajuy, Iloilo in 2011.
134 passengers and 44 crewmembers on board was bound for Iloilo from Cebu when it sank.
All 178 people on board were rescued by fishermen and other passing vessels like the MV Filipinas Cebu and MV Phil Visayas, assisted by the PCG.
M/V Asia Japan
M/V Asia Japan sold to Santa Clara Shipping and renamed as M/V Nathan Matthew
M/V Asia South Korea
M/V Asia South Korea was acquired by the company in 1972 and also was used to serve Cebu City to Iloilo City route. She ran aground and sank off Bantayan Island in Cebu on December 22, 1999, due to stormy weather and high seas, killing 56 of its passengers.
M/V Asia Hongkong
This vessel was sold to Montenegro Lines and renamed as M/V Reina del Rosario
M/V Asia Brunei
Asia Brunei was sold to Navios Lines as M/V Grand Unity.
M/V Asia Singapore
Asia Singapore was sold to FJ Palacio Lines and renamed as M/V Calbayog. M/V Calbayog was sold to Starlite Ferries Inc. and renamed as M/V Starlite Neptune.
M/V Asia Thailand
This vessel was destroyed by fire while docked at the Port of Cebu.
M/V Asia Taiwan
The vessel was sold to Asian Marine Transport System and renamed as M/V Super Shuttle Ferry 7 then capsized in Manila Bay.
M/V Asia Indonesia
The vessel was sold to Navios Lines as M/V Grand Venture.
Ports of call and Routes
Ports of call
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines has 14 ports of call: (7 passenger/cargo 7 cargo only), with Cebu as the company's home port, it serves destinations such as:[23]
Quality Metal & Shipworks, Inc. – engaged in machining and mechanical works on ship machineries and industrial plants.
Oceanstar Shipping, Inc. – engaged in the business of domestic shipping for the transportation of passengers and cargoes within territorial waters and/or on the high seas.
Dynamic Cuisine, Inc. – engaged in operating restaurants, coffee shops, refreshment parlors, cocktail lounges, bars, and in cooking and catering foods, drinks, refreshments and other foods or commodities.
Starsy Shoppe, Inc. – engaged in the purchase of all kinds of food and beverage products and merchandise, except rice and corn, locally and/or through importation for purposes of selling the same on retail or wholesale, either local and/or through importation.
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