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.
History
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]
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]
Ports of Call
Philippine Span Asia Carrier's main ports of call are the cities of
Manila and
Cebu. Other ports of call are:
This list includes all of the ships that were part of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Inc. and Sulpicio Lines:
Roll on Roll off (RORO)
MV Princess of the South, the former flagship of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation
Princess of The Stars[12] (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[13] (sunk near Batangas during a typhoon in 1998, over 70 died, with almost 80 people missing, Former Flagship 1993 - 1998)
Cotabato Princess[14] (sold & broken-up in Villono Shipyard)
Nasipit Princess (sold & broken-up)
Filipina Princess[15] (sold to breakers in China, Former Flagship 1988 - 1993)
Princess of The Paradise[16] (sold to breakers in China)
Princess of The Ocean[17] (sold to breakers in China)
Tacloban Princess[24] (sold & caught fire, later declared a total loss)
Cruisers
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[25] (sold to breakers in China)
Iloilo Princess[26] (formerly called Don Enrique and Davao Princess sunk in Pier 7, sold & broken-up)