2GO Maligaya

This article is about the passenger ferry. For other uses of 2GO, see 2go (disambiguation).

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.

MV 2GO Maligaya

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	March 27, 2003
Maiden voyage	2003
In service	2003–2020
Out of service	March 10, 2020
Homeport	Kobe
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 Group Inc.
Philippines
Name	2GO Maligaya
Owner	2GO Group Inc.
Operator	2GO Travel
Port of registry	Manila, Philippines
Route	1. Manila - Iloilo - Bacolod - Manila (2025) 2. Manila - Bacolod - Iloilo - Cagayan de Oro - Iloilo - Manila (2025)
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	2x Wärtsilä 16V38B diesel engine (20,152 kW (27,024 hp))
Propulsion	Controllable Pitch Propeller(CPP) 2-shaft
Speed	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) max
Capacity	667 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

2GO Maligaya when she was still in Japan

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. 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. Stena plans to make it available in the course of 2020 after major transformation work to bring it up to European standards.

However, 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 sister ship, 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.

Onboard

Acommodations

• Business Class for 2
• Business Class for 4
• Stateroom
• Mega Value Class
• Tourist Class

Amenities

• Horizon Cafe
• Island Fiesta
• Cafe 2GO
• Front Desk
• KTV
• Main Lobby
• Sea breeze
• Sundeck