CEBUANOS and Boholanos will soon be able to experience sea travel aboard a world-class vessel with Lite Shipping Corporation’s new Lite Ferry 88 (LF 88).
The US$8.3 million roll-on/roll-off (RORO) catamaran passenger ferry will soon be plying the Cebu City to Tubigon town in Bohol route.
Lucio Lim Jr., Lite Shipping Corp. president, said they hope to have the vessel’s maiden voyage before Holy Week or by early April.
“We are from Bohol so we chose the Cebu City to Tubigon route for this vessel. The volume here warrants it more. It is also both a sentimental and business decision at the same time,” Lim said during a press conference and tour inside the vessel on Wednesday afternoon.
They decided not to have the LF 88 ply the Cebu City to Tagbilaran City route since there are already a lot fast ferries in this route.
Although ready for operation, Lite Shipping Corp. Vice President for Ship Management Jonathan Imboy said they are still working on the ship’s papers with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
They have already proposed a schedule to Marina for the LF 88 to do four round-trips a day.
The LF 88 can travel at an average speed of 16 knots but it can also reach a maximum of 18 knots. Travel time would be around one and a half hours.
More ships
According to Lim, the LF 88 is just the first of three international class vessels that the company is acquiring for this year. They are expecting a Lite Ferry 5 and Lite Ferry 9 which are scheduled to be delivered on October 2018.
The company is spending another US$10 to 12 million for the two additional vessels.
At present, the Lite Ferries operates a total fleet of 25 RORO – passenger ferries in the Visayas and Mindanao.
There are a total of 22 destinations in the islands of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros, Samar, Leyte, and Northern Mindanao.
As they enter their 28th year of operation, Lim said they are also planning to open two more routes somewhere in the Visayas and Mindanao. And soon, he said they hope to expand up north in Luzon.
The LF 88 is the only RORO passenger Catamaran ferry operating in the Philippines that is classed by the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping in London – the oldest and a premier ship classification society in the world.
The vessel is 60 meters long and 20 meters wide.
With this size, it is able to carry 352 passengers, and can take in rolling cargo loads of 12 units of ten-wheeler trucks, plus 20 light vehicles altogether.