2GO Masinag

''2GO Masinag'' (MNG) or simply known as MV ''Masinag'' is a passenger ferry of the Philippine company 2GO Group that went into service in 2002 as ''Ferry Fukuoka II''.

She is the sister ship of , the former ''Ferry Kyoto II'', acquired by 2GO a few months before ''2GO Masinag''. The difference between these the acquisitions of the two ships is that ''2GO Masikap'' had an existing two-piece cargo ramp at the portside quarter aft area which was refitted when she was still under the Hanil Car Express Ferry while ''2GO Masinag'' only utilized its original aft ramp from Japan. The addition and installation of her passenger gangplank and her quarter aft portside ramp were installed upon arrival in the Philippines.

It is the successor of the former 2GO Travel vessel: M/V ''St. Therese of the Child Jesus'' (STCJ / ex-Ferry Fukuoka).

History

At the dawn of the 2000s, the Meimon Taiyō Ferry company wanted to standardize the quality of its services on the routes between Osaka and the island of Kyūshū. Despite being put into service in 1989, the twins ''Ferry Kyoto'' ''(future SuperFerry 15)'' and ''Ferry Fukuoka (future SuperFerry 16 / St. Therese of the Child Jesus)'' had too great a gap with the ''Ferry Osaka and Ferry Kitakyushu'' in terms of the comfort of the facilities. In order to offer homogeneous services within the fleet, the construction of a new pair was decided.

Based on the sister ships ''Ferry Osaka'' and ''Ferry Kitakyushu'', the ship takes up the general design of its predecessors such as the single funnel as well as a similar layout of the interior fittings. With a length fixed at 167 meters, it is larger than its predecessors but has a smaller passenger capacity. Incorporating some of the latest standards of shipbuilding, its propulsion system is designed to reduce CO 2 emissions by 19%. It was also among the first passenger ships in Japan to be equipped with devices to facilitate the movement of people with reduced mobility on board.

''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' was ordered from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, and was laid down on November 12, 2001, a few weeks after her sister ship, and launched on June 14, 2002. After three and a half months of testing, she was delivered to Meimon Taiyō Ferry in October 2002.

In 2005, it was remodeled to add a second-class Western-style cabin and a first-class Western-style cabin to the starboard bow. The ship is barrier-free, with multi-purpose toilets and elevators installed.

In 2015, the numerical notation of ship names was changed from Arabic to Roman numerals.

In 2022, it was retired and replaced by her successor, also named ''Ferry Fukuoka''. She was acquired by South Korean operator Seaworld Express Ferry Co. Ltd. and renamed ''Queen Mary 2'' (not to be confused with Cunard Line's RMS Queen Mary 2). During this time, she received significant updates to her interior.

2GO Travel has been on a "buying-spree" since SM Investments took full ownership of the company in 2023. It negotiated a deal to acquire both sister ships (ex-''Blue Pearl'' and ex-''Queen Mary 2''). The first to arrive in the country is the ex-''Blue Pearl'', now ''2GO Magalang/2GO Masikap'' and then ex-''Queen Mary 2'', now ''2GO Masinag''. After ex-''Queen Mary 2'' was turned over from her previous operator (around first quarter of 2024), she immediately went to a floating dock in Mokpo, South Korea for drydocking and repainting works before heading to the Philippines. She left Mokpo, South Korea around April 18, 2024 to embark on a three-day journey heading to the Philippines where she arrived on April 21, and she was anchored off the coast of Cavite.

She is the 5th vessel (together with her sister ship M/V ''2GO Masikap'') in the M series that was acquired since SM Investments took full control of the company. With the 3 new liner acquisition of 2GO (''Masikap'', ''Masigla'' and ''Masinag''), M/V ''2GO Maligaya'' and M/V ''2GO Masagana'' still remains to be the biggest and the longest in its fleet.

Onboard

Accommodations

*''Business Class for 1''
*''Business Class for 2''
*''Business Class for 4''
*''Stateroom for 2''
*''Suiteroom for 2''
*''VIP Suiteroom''
*''Mega Value Class''
*''Tourist Class''

Amenities

*''Horizon Cafe''
*''Island Fiesta''
*''Cafe 2GO''
*''Front Desk''
*''Main Lobby''
*'' Miniso and Kultura''
*''Watsons and ShipMart''
*''Salon''
*''Pet Room''
*''Massage Chairs''
*''Sundeck''

Images

Image:MV 2GO Masinag 5F lobby 1 (Romblon; 01-22-2025).jpg, Main lobby
Image:MV 2GO Masinag 5F Island Fiesta tables 6 (Romblon; 01-22-2025).jpg, Island Fiesta

Accidents and incidents

Collision with a cargo ship

On August 30, 2004, as Typhoon Chaba approached, the ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'', which had sought refuge in the Hiuchi Nada Sea in the Seto Inland Sea, dragged its anchor and collided with the cargo ship ''Century Hope'', also taking refuge there. The ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' was monitoring for anchor dragging using radar and GPS but had not kept its engines ready. When the anchor began to drag at 9:10 PM, the ship was swept away as it could not use its engines to prevent the drift.

The ''Century Hope'' noticed the ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' drifting and tried to warn it with whistles and searchlights. Despite reversing its engines fully, the ''Century Hope'' was struck at 9:19 PM when the ''Ferry Fukuoka 2's'' port stern collided with its bow. The ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' sustained damage to its port rear hull and a bent propeller, while the ''Century Hope'' suffered damage to its bulbous bow and bow shell.

Collision with ''Ferry Kitakyushu''

On January 7, 2007, while docking at the Nanko Ferry Terminal at the Port of Osaka, the ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' was pushed away by strong winds and collided with the ''Ferry Kitakyushu'', docked at the neighboring berth. At the time, winds reaching a maximum speed of 21.5 meters per second were blowing from the west.

Despite using its engine, bow thruster, and assistance from a tugboat, the ''Ferry Fukuoka 2'' was pushed off course by the strong wind hitting its starboard stern. As a result, the center of its port side struck the starboard stern of the ''Kitakyushu'', causing damage to the outer plating and fenders of both vessels.

Contact with buoy on the west side of Akashi Strait

On the evening of March 18, 2018, at around 7:35 PM, the ''Ferry Fukuoka II'' collided with an 8-ton buoy on the west side of the Akashi Strait. According to the Kobe Coast Guard, the ferry had departed Osaka South Port at 5 PM, heading to Shin-Moji Port in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, carrying 509 passengers and crew.

Before the collision, a passenger had fallen seriously ill, prompting the Himeji Coast Guard Office to dispatch the patrol boat ''Nunobiki'' to transfer the person for medical attention. While the ferry was stationary without dropping anchor during the transfer, its starboard stern came into contact with the buoy. Although no injuries occurred, part of the starboard propeller was suspected to be damaged, rendering the ferry unable to navigate.

Early on March 19, the anchor-lifting ship ''Oyashio'' from ''Fukada Salvage'' arrived to assist. Divers discovered that the buoy’s anchor chain had become entangled in the starboard propeller. They cut the chain, and by 3 PM, the ferry was able to proceed using only the port propeller, which was less affected. The ferry began its return to ''Osaka Nanko Port'', and with tugboat support, it docked after 6 PM, 25 hours after its initial departure.Accident ferry returns to Osaka port; Japan Transport Safety Board dispatches investigators
/ref>

The ferry operator announced refunds for all passenger fares and compensation of 15,000 yen (96 US Dollar) per person. The Japan Transport Safety Board dispatched a marine accident investigator on March 19 to determine the cause of the incident. All sailings of the ''Ferry Fukuoka II'' were canceled from March 19 onward due to necessary repairs for the damaged starboard propeller.

See also

*2GO Maligaya
*2GO Masagana
*2GO Masikap
*2GO Masigla

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:2GO Masinag
Ships of 2GO Group
Ferries of the Philippines
2002 ships