2GO Maligaya is a passenger ferry and flagship of the Philippine shipping company 2GO Travel that went into service in 2003 as Yamato of Hankyu Ferry. She is the flagship of the fleet.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Yamato |
| Owner | Hankyu Ferry |
| Port of registry | Kobe, Japan |
| Route | Kobe – Kitakyushu |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Shimonoseki, Japan) |
| Laid down | 2002 |
| Launched | 2002 |
| Maiden voyage | 2003 |
| In service | 2003–2020 |
| Out of service | 2020 |
| Identification | IMO number: 9263150 |
| Fate | Sold to Stena RORO |
| History | |
 Panama | |
| Name | Stena Nova |
| Owner | Stena AB |
| Port of registry | Panama City, Panama |
| Acquired | 2020 |
| Fate | Never entered service, sold to 2GO Travel |
 Philippines | |
| Name | 2GO Maligaya |
| Owner | 2GO Travel |
| Operator | 2GO Travel |
| Port of registry | Manila, Philippines |
| Route | Manila - Cebu; Manila - Davao - General Santos – Iloilo (2024) |
| Acquired | 2020 |
| Maiden voyage | May 30, 2021 |
| In service | 2021–present |
| Homeport | Manila |
| Fate | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | ROPAX ferry |
| Tonnage | 29,046 GT |
| Length | 195 m (639 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 26 m (85 ft 4 in) |
| Ramps | 2 |
| Installed power | Wärtsilä 16V38B diesel engine |
| Propulsion | dual propellers |
| Speed | 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) max |
| Capacity | 800 passengers |
She is the sister ship of MV 2GO Masagana, formerly Tsukushi and was acquired by 2GO a few months after 2GO Maligaya.
She and her sister ship are the largest passenger vessels ever to sail in the Philippines, surpassing MV Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines.
Service history
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She started her career in Japan as Yamato (Japanese: やまと) for the Japanese ferry company, Hankyu Ferry, and was assigned on the Kobe and Kitakyushu route. She was paired on the route with her sistership, Tsukushi (2GO Masagana).
In February 2019, the ship was acquired by Stena RoRo, but remained in use for Hankyu Ferry until March 10, 2020, before being replaced by Settsu.[1] On March 22, Stena RoRo brought the ship, and was renamed Stena Nova, under the flag of Panama. The ship was originally intended to be offered to the charter market in Europe in 2020 after a renovation in Greek Perama, in which Europe at that time was plagued by shortage of ships.[1][2][3] Stena plans to make it available in the course of 2020 after major transformation work to bring it up to European standards.
However, the Stena's plans were marred by the rapid progression of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting more and more countries in Europe. The ship nevertheless left Japan on 14 March 2020, but the situation tended to deteriorate, the ship made its first headlines in the Philippines as the vessel was detained in Subic Bay on 22 April before being moved to Brunei Bay in Malaysia in July, a precursor to its future Philippine service. Uncertainties weighed on Stena's project at the time and ultimately, Stena Roro decided to cancel the project altogether in mid-2020 due to significant delays and worsening situations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the cancellation of Stena Roro, the vessel was laid up in Brunei Bay, Malaysia awaiting potential buyers.
In March 2021, Stena Roro finally announced its sale to the Philippine company Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation, the former owner of 2GO Group. Stena Nova departed Brunei Bay on 5 March for the Philippines and reached Manila on 9 March.
Returning to the Philippines the second time, the ship was headed to the coast of Manila and was anchored until March 17 before being taken to a dry dock in Bauan, Batangas to be brought up to the standards of its new owner, 2GO Travel. It underwent a relatively few modifications, the major ones were the addition of two side ramps on the starboard side and a welded staircase on its sides. She was launched as 2GO Maligaya and was re-registered in Manila as the newest and biggest flagship of 2GO Travel.
Being a flagship vessel, her maiden voyage in her new colors took place on May 30, 2021 and was assigned to the premier Manila - Cebu - Cagayan De Oro route. She was joined by her sistership, 2GO Masagana (ex-Tsukushi) a few months later, which took over that route since then. She was assigned to several destinations in the Philippines such as Iloilo and Butuan before finally introduced to 2GO's newest (and farthest) destinations, Davao City and General Santos which she is in active service since.
References
edit- ^ a b "Stena Nova Is Expected In Greece By The End Of 2020". 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ^ "Stena Nova – New Vessel for Charter". 2019-03-18. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ^ "Stena RoRo Aquires RoPax Vessel in Japan". 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
