Wikipedia

Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation

Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation (PSACC), formerly branded as Sulpicio Lines, Inc. (SLI, Tagalog pronunciation: [sulˈpiːʃo]), is a major shipping line in the Philippines.[1][2] PSACC is one of the largest domestic shipping and container companies in the Philippines in terms of the number of vessels operated and gross tonnage. The company provides inter-island cargo services throughout the major ports and cities in the Philippines.

Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation
Company typeShipping Line
IndustryShipping
FoundedSeptember 1, 1973; 51 years ago (1973-09-01)
FounderSulpicio Go
HeadquartersDon Sulpicio Go Bldg. Sulpicio Go St. North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, Philippines
Area served
Philippines
Key people
Jordan Go (President and CEO)
ServicesPassenger sea transport (formerly), freight sea transport
Websitewww.spanasiacarrier.com

History

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Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation (PSACC) was established as Sulpicio Lines by Go Guioc So. Commonly known as Sulpicio Go, Go was a Chinese merchant from Amoy (now Xiamen) who emigrated to the Philippines in 1919 with his siblings. With his brother he set up a shipping enterprise in Eastern Visayas.[3] In 1953, Go served as the managing partner of Carlos A. Gothong Lines, Inc.[4]

Sulpicio Go established his own venture with his sons by founding Sulpicio Lines in September 1973, starting with a fleet of 17 vessels, 1 tugboat and 5 barges.[5][6] Sulpicio Lines catered to a niche market, opening tertiary and developmental passenger routes to isolated communities in Central and Eastern Visayas.[4]

Sulpicio Lines grew to be the largest domestic shipping company in the Philippines, with a fleet of 22 passenger and cargo vessels and a market share of 20 percent of domestic sea traffic in the Philippines in 1988.[7]

The company experienced multiple marine disasters, including the 1987 sinking of the Doña Paz,[7] the sinking of the Doña Marilyn in 1988,[7] the sinking of the Princess of the Orient in 1998, and the 2008 sinking of the Princess of The Stars during the occurrence of Typhoon Fengshen (PAGASA name: Frank). In 2009, the PSACC adopted its current name discontinuing the use of "Sulpicio Lines to refer to the company.[8]

 
PSACC MV Span Asia 21

In January 2015, almost 7 years after the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars, the Maritime Industry Authority decided to revoke the company's certificate of public convenience (CPC), which meant that the company could no longer legally transport passengers.[9][10]

The Court of Appeals, in a 237-page landmark decision dated June 28, 2024, written by Justice Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, held that Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation formerly Sulpicio Lines, Inc. was guilty of gross negligence and consequently liable for the deaths of 814 passengers and 500 missing in the 2008 MV Princess of the Stars shipwreck. In upholding the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 49's judgment, the CA ordered PSACC owners Enrique Go, Eusebio Go, Carlos Go, Victoriano Go, Dominador Go, Ricardo Go, Edward Go and Edgar Go, to pay a total of P129,854,502.57 damages to the victims' heirs, survivors, families and relatives, represented by counsel Persida Acosta.[11]

Ports of Call

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Philippine Span Asia Carrier's main ports of call are the cities of Manila and Cebu. Other ports of call are:

Current Fleet

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PSACC once had passenger RoRo (Roll on - Roll off) vessels. However, because of their disreputable public image after a series of ferry disasters, PSACC has been banned from carrying passengers and is currently limited to cargo shipping. As of December 2024, PSACC has 22 vessels. Currently PSACC is undergoing a fleet modernization program to replace old vessels with new ones.

 
Span Asia 25 docked at the Zamboanga International Seaport
  • Span Asia 9
  • Span Asia 10
  • Span Asia 11
  • Span Asia 12
  • Span Asia 19
  • Span Asia 21
  • Span Asia 22
  • Span Asia 25[12]
  • Span Asia 27
  • Span Asia 31
  • Span Asia 37
  • Span Asia 39
  • Span Asia 50
  • Span Asia 51
  • Span Asia 52
  • Span Asia 53
  • Span Asia 55
  • Span Asia 59
  • Span Asia 70
  • Span Asia 71
  • Span Asia 72
  • Span Asia 73

Former Fleet

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This list includes all of the ships that were part of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Inc. and Sulpicio Lines:

Roll on Roll off (RORO)

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MV Princess of the South, the former flagship of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation
  • Princess of The Stars[13] (capsized & sunk in 2008 near San Fernando, Romblon, with the loss over 800 lives. Was later broken up in Navotas, Former Flagship 2004 - 2008)
  • Princess of the Orient[14] (sunk near Batangas during a typhoon in 1998, over 70 died, with almost 80 people missing, Former Flagship 1993 - 1998)
  • Cotabato Princess[15] (sold & broken-up in Villono Shipyard)
  • Nasipit Princess (sold & broken-up)
  • Filipina Princess[16] (sold to breakers in China, Former Flagship 1988 - 1993)
  • Manila Princess (sold and broken up)
  • Princess of The Paradise[17] (sold to breakers in China)
  • Princess of The Ocean[18] (sold to breakers in China)
  • Princess of The Pacific[19] (sold & broken-up)
  • Princess of New Unity[20] (sold & broken-up sometime in the 2000s)
  • Princess of the World[21] (caught fire in Zamboanga)
  • Princess of The Universe[22] (sold to breakers in India, Former Flagship 1998 - 2004)
  • Princess of The South (sold & broken-up, Former Flagship 2008 - 2014)
  • Princess of the Earth (Sold to Trans-Asia Shipping as Trans Asia 10)
  • Cagayan Princess[23] (sold to Roble Shipping Inc. as M/V Theresian Stars)
  • Cebu Princess[24] (sold to Roble Shipping Inc. as M/V Joyful Stars)
  • Tacloban Princess[25] (sold & caught fire, later declared a total loss)
  • Surigao Princess (sold and broken up)

Cruisers

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MV Doña Paz
  • Doña Paz (formerly called Don Sulpicio, caught fire after colliding with an oil tanker, resulting in over 4000 lives lost: the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history)
  • Doña Marilyn (formerly called Doña Ana, sank October 24, 1988 in Typhoon Ruby, known as Unsang in the Philippines. 391 dead or missing; 300 survivors)
  • Philippine Princess (caught fire in 1997, later broken-up, Former Flagship 1984 - 1988)
  • Princess of The Caribbean[26] (sold to breakers in China)
  • Iloilo Princess[27] (formerly called Don Enrique and Davao Princess sunk in Pier 7, sold & broken-up)
  • Palawan Princess[28] (sold & broken-up)
  • Dipolog Princess[29] (sold to breakers in China)
  • Don Alberto
  • Don Manuel
  • Don Enrique
  • Don Carlos
  • Don Camillo
  • Don Lorenzo
  • Don Alfredo
  • Doña Vicenta
  • Doña Gloria
  • Doña Pamela
  • Doña Angelina

Cargo Vessels

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MV Sulpicio Express Siete
  • Span Asia 1
  • Span Asia 2
  • Span Asia 3
  • Span Asia 5
  • Span Asia 7
  • Span Asia 14
  • Span Asia 15
  • Span Asia 16
  • Span Asia 17 (Former name MV Sulpicio Express Siete. Was involved in a collision with the ferry MV St. Thomas Aquinas on August 16, 2013)
  • Span Asia 20
  • Span Asia 23
  • Span Asia 29
  • Span Asia 30
  • Span Asia 32
  • Span Asia 33
  • Span Asia 35
  • Sulpicio Express Uno
  • Sulpicio Container II
  • Sulpicio Container V
  • Sulpicio Container IX
  • Sulpicio Container XI
  • Sulpicio Container XII
  • Sulpicio Container XIV

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cruz, Irene R. Sino. "Sulpicio gone; owners change name". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation". www.everythingcebu.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  3. ^ "Our History". Sulpicio Lines. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 11, 2004.
  4. ^ a b "Top 100 Cebuano Personalities - Don Sulpicio Go". The Philippine Star. July 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Our History". Sulpicio Lines. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004.
  6. ^ "Our History". Sulpicio Lines. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004.
  7. ^ a b c Suarez, Miguel (November 3, 1988). "Aquino Temporarily Shuts Shipping Company". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Fernandez, Connie (August 17, 2013). "Despite name change, disaster hounds Sulpicio Lines". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Visayas. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Bernal, Buena (February 16, 2015). "Sulpicio Lines loses permit to transport people". Rappler. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd (June 18, 2018). "CA affirms Marina transport ban vs. Sulpicio Lines". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Calalo, Arlie (July 31, 2024). "CA upholds Sulpicio verdict". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Filsec - Filipino Ship Enthusiast Coalition - Photo of MV Span Asia 25". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Stars". Archived from the original on September 26, 2008.
  14. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Orient". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  15. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Cotabato Princess". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  16. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Filipina Princess". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  17. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Paradise". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  18. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Ocean". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  19. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Pacific". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  20. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of New Unity". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  21. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The World". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  22. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Universe". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  23. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Cagayan Princess". Archived from the original on September 26, 2008.
  24. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Cebu Princess". Archived from the original on September 28, 2008.
  25. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Tacloban Princess". Archived from the original on November 1, 2008.
  26. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Princess of The Carribean [sic]". wakanatsu.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  27. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Iloilo Princess". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  28. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Palawan Princess". Archived from the original on September 27, 2008.
  29. ^ "Wakanatsu - Photo of MV Dipolog Princess". Archived from the original on October 1, 2008.
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