Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation

Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation

Type	Private company
Industry	Ferry Services
Founded	Aboitiz(1994)
Headquarters	Supercat Terminal Pier 4, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, Philippines
Website	http://www.supercat.com.ph/

The SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, commonly known as SuperCat was a shipping company that operated a fleet of High Speed Catamarans (HSC) in the Philippines. It is now part of 2GO Travel, subsidiary brand of the 2GO Group.^[1] Supercat was the sister company of SuperFerry and Cebu Ferries. Supercat operated 7 vessels in 7 ports around the Philippines.

Brief history

Interior of Supercat 32, one of the newer ships in the fleet, bound for Cebu City

Batangas - Calapan route is one of the most important shipping routes in the Philippines. During the early 1990s, the route was dominated by a single large shipping company.^{[citation needed]} Travelling during those days could take up to 3 hours and be uncomfortable. In 1994, Rodolfo G. Valencia, former governor of Oriental Mindoro, invited the Aboitiz group to ply the route. His intention was to bring a more convenient alternative to Mindoro. Under the management of Universal Aboitiz Inc., M/V Supercat 1, their pioneer vessel, traveled between Batangas and Calapan in only 45 minutes. ^{[citation needed]}

Supercat added routes throughout the Visayas Region. Fast craft became popular in the Philippines.^{[citation needed]} In 1997, Sea Angels (owned by Negros Navigation) merged with Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Hong Kong Park View Holdings to form the Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation.^[2] Supercat also acquired 2 vessels from Waterjet Shipping Corporation (owned by Waterjet Netherlands Antilles). They renamed it as Supercat 17 (former Waterjet 1, currently FastCat Ryde) and Supercat 18 (former Waterjet 2, currently FastCat Shanklin).^[3] The merger was eventually dissolved in 2002 and SuperCat became solely owned by Aboitiz. The abolition of the WG&A merger then soon unraveled. Supercat sacrificed some of its vessels and their corresponding routes in order to sustain its fast craft operations. Supercat also downsized its employee size from 200 to just 100 employees.^[2]

From the 1990s to early 2000s, all Supercat vessels were jet-powered. Due to economic problems, Aboitiz was forced sell ships reducing an original fleet of fourteen down to just seven.^[2][4]

To cope with the soaring fuel prices, Supercat started replacing their previous fleet with more fuel-efficient vessels. At present, all jet-powered Supercat HSC vessels were replaced by more fuel efficient vessels using a simple propulsion system.^[5]

Destinations ^[6]

Current Destinations

A Supercat Ticket Booth in Batangas Port

A Supercat Ticket Booth in Calapan Port

Supercat's Original Route (Batangas - Calapan)

• Batangas City, Batangas
• Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
• Cebu City, Cebu
• Iloilo City, Iloilo

• Ormoc City, Leyte
• Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Active Routes ^[6]

• Batangas - Calapan v v. (1 hour 10 minutes)
• Cebu - Ormoc v v. (2 hours and 20 minutes)
• Cebu - Tagbilaran v v. (1 hour 45 minutes)
• Iloilo - Bacolod v v. (1 hour 15 minutes)

Fleet

The Supercat fleet was mainly composed of high-speed catamarans, but they also owned monohulled vessels.^[7]

Supercat 22 docked at International Port of Batangas, Philippines

The bridge of a Supercat vessel

Evacuation Plan

Supercat Safety Video ^[8]

Supercat 23 cruising along Batangas Seas
Supercat 25 docked at Calapan Pier, Philippines

Supercat 32 docked at Tagbilaran Port, Philippines

Supercat 30 Aerial Shot

Supercat 32 passing under Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Cebu

Vessels

St. Nuriel (formerly Supercat 22)

St. Nuriel is formerly 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. She is currently serving the Batangas - Calapan route.

St. Uriel (formerly SuperCat 23)

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. She is currently in Cebu awaiting her fate after news that she was sold.

St. Sealthiel (formerly SuperCat 25)

St. Sealthiel was formerly 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. She is currently serving the Batangas - Calapan route.

SuperCat 26

SuperCat 26 was the former 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. She is currently serving the Bacolod-Iloilo route in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

St. Jhudiel (formerly SuperCat 30)

St. Jhudiel was formerly SuperCat 30 & formerly one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hanseblitz from 1996–2001 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 for elite passengers. 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. Supercat 32 is her sister ship. She is currently serving the Cebu - Tagbilaran route.

St. Braquiel (formerly SuperCat 32)

St. Braquiel was formerly SuperCat 32 & formerly one of Elbe City Jet's catamaran. She was named Hansepfeil from 1996–2002 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 for elite passengers. 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. Supercat 30 is her sister ship. She is currently serving the Cebu-Ormoc route.

St. Benedict (formerly SuperCat 36)

St. Benedict is formerly known as SuperCat 36 & Blue Fin and one of the oldest (1990) and one of three JetCats (high speed catamarans) purchased for the run to Manly. The other two are Sea Eagle and Sir David Martin (Now Supercat 38), delivered in that order. They replaced the hydrofoils. She formerly served from Manly to Circular Quay from 1990-2008 before ending up with Supercat. She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots. St. Dominic (formerly SuperCat 38) is her sistership.

St. Dominic (formerly SuperCat 38)

Supercat 38 docking at Tagbilaran Port, Philippines

St. Dominic is formerly known as SuperCat 38 & Sir David Martin and one of the oldest (1990) and one of three JetCats (high speed catamarans) purchased for the run to Manly. The other two are Sea Eagle and Blue Fin (Now Supercat 36), delivered in that order. They replaced the hydrofoils. She formerly served from Manly to Circular Quay from 1990-2008 before ending up with Supercat. She uses a KAMEWA waterjet-propulsion and her maximum service speed can reach up to 31 knots and she is 34.8 metres long. St. Benedict (formerly SuperCat 36) is her sistership.

Former Vessels

Formerly Supercat 5 and Supercat 7, now in Croatia

Supercat 7 in Supercat's Altered Original Livery. The Livery was partially modified to reflect the Sea Angels Merger

Former Supercat Vessels

• Supercat 1 (sank-off en route to Calapan City, Mindoro)
• Supercat - I (sold to Emeraude Lines renamed as NORMANDIE EXPRESS, later renamed as Moorea Express)^[9]
• Supercat 2 (sold to Korean Shipping Company KOREA EXPRESS FERRY CO.,Ltd, renamed as Korea Express)
• Supercat 3 (sold to Croatian Shipping Company Jadrolinija, renamed as Karolina ^[10])
• Supercat 5 (sold to Croatian Shipping Company Jadrolinija, renamed as Judita^[10])
• Supercat 6 (sold to Moreton Bay Whale Watching, sold to Seo Kyung Korea renamed as Gold Coast)
• Supercat 7 (sold to Croatian Shipping Company Jadrolinija, renamed as Novalja^[10])
• Supercat 8 (sold to Croatian Shipping Company Jadrolinija, renamed as Dubravka^[10])
• Supercat 9 (sold to Croatian Shipping Company, renamed as Bisovo)
• Supercat 10 (sold to Korean Shipping Company WONDERFUL ISLAND CO., renamed as Mosulpo 1 (모슬포1호))
• Supercat 11: St. Raphael (sold to Italian Shipping Company Ustica Lines, renamed as Federica M)
• Supercat 12: St. Gabriel (sold to Italian Shipping Company Ustica Lines, renamed as Gabrielle M)
• Supercat 17 (sold to Wightlink for use between Portsmouth and Ryde,^[11] Renamed as FastCat-Ryde)
• Supercat 18 (sold to Wightlink for use between Portsmouth and Ryde,^[12] Renamed as FastCat-Shanklin )
• Supercat 20 (sold to South African Shipping Company FakoShip, renamed as Endurance)
• Supercat 21 (returned to her lessor ^[5])
• Supercat 2001/Tricat 50 (sold, renamed as SEA POWER 1)
• Supercat 2002 (sold to a Dutch Shipping Company, renamed as Tiger)

Trivia

Supercat 6, smallest Supercat vessel

Supercat 3

Supercat 2001 (formerly TriCat 50)

Supercats in Philippine Flag Livery

• Sometime in 1994, M/V Supercat sank off near Calapan City. There were no casualties. All passengers were rescued by another RORO vessel. There were speculations that the vessel was sabotaged. It was not proven though.
• Supercat 6 was the smallest Supercat vessel
• In commemoration of the Philippine Independence Centennial, Supercat repainted some of its vessels with a "Philippine Flag Livery".
• TriCat 50 was renamed as Supercat 2001.
• Supercat had already owned three (3) mono hull fast crafts (namely SC 20, 21 & 23) in its history.
• The brand "Supercat" was derived from two words, "SUPER" and "CATamaran"
• Sharon Cuneta filmed Supercat's TV Ad in both Batangas City and Calapan City. The Ad was only advertised on board and through local cable networks TV Ad in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and Iloilo City.
• Supercat used to have its own exclusive terminal in Calapan. The terminal was eventually demolished after a bigger and better public terminal was constructed in 2009.
• Supercat was sued for mandating an additional terminal fee on top of the fare in Calapan, for use of their newly constructed exclusive terminal. Supercat was then forced to remove the terminal fee.
• The Catamaran Judita, formerly Supercat 5, is now labeled as the "Pope's Catamaran". Pope John Paul II rode Judita from Omišalj to Rijeka in his visit to Croatia

See also

• SuperFerry
• Montenegro Lines
• Cebu Ferries
• Negros Navigation
• Roble Shipping Inc.
• List of shipping companies in the Philippines

References

External links

• Aboitiz Transport sale: hard decision after marking 100 yrs (archived from the original on 2009-06-26)
• http://www.supercat.com.ph/index.asp
• http://www.flickr.com/groups/psss/