This is a bird’s eye view of Lite Shipping Corp.’s brand-new ship – the M/V Lite Ferry Nine. Contributed photo
Lite Shipping Corporation, which is also known by its brand name Lite Ferries, “Ang Barkong Bol-anon”, starts a new Jagna-Cagayan de Oro route by way of its brand-new vessel the M/V Lite Ferry Nine, according to the shipping firm’s press release.
Lite Shipping Corporation is continually expanding and bringing in modern brand new ships to its fleet and on April 24, 2021 the company launched its brand new vessel, M/V Lite Ferry Nine.
The blessing and launching was held inside the vessel docked at the Port of Jagna, Bohol.
The new ship is scheduled to travel the Jagna, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro route, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 pm and from Cagayan de Oro to Jagna, Bohol on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 pm.
Lite Ferry Nine was built in China and completed in January 2020.
However, the ship’s delivery to its new owners was delayed for more than one (1) year due to the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.
This 70-meter long coastwise roll on-roll off (RO-RO) ferry has a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 2,107 tons that can accommodate 400 passengers and 17 ten-wheeler trucks.
It is an International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) registered ship and classified by the Bureau Veritas of France (BV).
M/V Lite Ferry Nine has an economy, standard and tourist class accommodation which is more than compliant with Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) standards on passageways and bed bunks accommodation.
All Lite Ferry vessels are fully compliant on Covid safety protocols and guidelines, according to the press release.
The launching event was graced by Gov. Arthur Yap with officials of the local government unit of Jagna, Philippine Coast Guard, among other guests.
The managers of Lite Shipping Corporation, headed by Jethro Nathaniel Lim Imboy, the head for Commercial Operations, led the launch event.
Lite Ferries operates one of the youngest fleets in the country, with one-third (1/3) of the fleet that are brand new and one-fourth (1/4) of the vessels in the fleet aged below 20 years old upon acquisition by the company, the press release added.
Moreover, the company has been engaging in an aggressive re-fleeting program fpr the past 7 years, the company press release bared.
In addition, Lite Ferries will soon have a launching of its newest route later this month, the MATNOG, Sorsogon to ALLEN, Samar voyage, the company revealed.
The new route signals the start of its presence of the shipping firm in the Bicol Region and Northern Samar. The new daily trip schedules are as follows: Matnog to Allen every 4am, 10am 4pm and 10pm and Allen to Matnog 1AM 7am, 1pm and 7pm.
The shipping company is expanding further its connectivity to Cebu from Bicol as Lite Ferries will soon establish a direct new route from Bogo City in CEBU to MATNOG in Sorsogon, shortening the interisland travel from Luzon island to the main economic center of Visayas, Cebu, to just 9 to 10 hours trip via Bogo City.
Lite Ferries announces the trip schedules that are as follows: Bogo City/Maya Port to Matnog on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 12 am and Matnog to Bogo City/Maya Port on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12am.
The Bogo/Maya, Cebu to Matnog, Sorsogon trip is a pioneering route by Lite Shipping Corporation in line with its goal of linking Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with a better interisland connectivity and faster transport of cargos, the press release concluded.
Gov. Arthur Yap (center) graces the launch of Lite Shipping Corp.’s brand-new vessel, M/V Lite Ferry Nine. Contributed photo
The blessing ceremony being held inside the brand-new ship of Lite Shipping Corp.’s, the Lite Ferry Nine. Contributed photo