2GO opts for smaller ships to boost capacity and faster turnarounds

MANILA-based 2GO Group, formerly Aboitiz Transport Systems Corp., plans to replace two old cargo ships with smaller models that will enable the company to sail at full capacity more frequently instead of waiting too long to fill up the vessels.

"This year we will be replacing big cargo ships 2GO1 and 2GO2, which at 1,000 TEU is hard to fill up and too big for this market," said president and CEO Sulficio Tagud, reported Manila Business World. Mr Tagud pointed out that big cargo ships tend to stay docked in ports too long, which limits the number of trips and cuts delivery efficiency.

The firm plans to spend US$8 million for two new 250-300 TEU ships. Mr Tagud said the smaller capacity ships "won't lower our volumes because we have a lot of ships."