UP Ibalon Bicol: The Evolution of "Ariake" to "Mabuhay 5" and "SuperFerry 9"

The Evolution of "Ariake" to "Mabuhay 5" and "SuperFerry 9"

9/09/2009 | Posted by myty555 | Edit Post

Over its lifetime a ship evolves. Modifications and conversions are made, changes in name and ownership happen, flag of registry changes. Such is the case of the ship originally known as "Ariake".

"Ariake" has the ID number IMO 8517396 (IMO number is the unchangeable number of ahip until her death). She was a ship built in 1986 and first owned by Japan's "A" Line. In her original iteration she had two cargo decks (one of which is not visible from outside) and two other decks.

Later on in Japan she was further built up. But one peculiar trait of hers is the wide cargo deck in front of the ship.

In 1995 she was sold to William Lines in the Philippines and became the "Mabuhay 5". Further passenger decks were added and her upper cargo deck was converted into passenger decks. She had four-and-a-half passenger decks. Probably she was the pax-cargo ship with the most number of decks in the Philippines and her capacity rose to 1,952 passengers.

With the merger of the big shipping companies in the Philippines that produced William, Gothong and Aboitiz (WG&A) she became the "SuperFerry 9". Later on William and Gothong sold out and the resulting company became the Aboitiz Transport Shipping Corporation (ATS or ATSC). ATS was the last owner of "SF9", her monicker.

"SF9" underwent one final change when local shipping went on a drastic change down due to the pressure of the budget airlines and the emergence of the short-distance ferries and the inter-modal form of transport. Two of her passenger decks were reconverted in a second cargo deck like when she was still in Japan in order to maximize her load. It was in this form when she went down off the coast of Zamboanga.

Photo Credits:

Toshihiko Mikami
Mike Gutib

Labels: "A" Line, Aboitiz Transport System, Ariake, ATS, IMO 8517396, Mabuhay 5, SF9, SuperFerry 9, William Gothong and Aboitiz, William Lines

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The Evolution of "Ariake" to "Mabuhay 5" and "SuperFerry 9"

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