LITE Ferries is expected to increase its fleet to 27 vessels with the arrival of two new ships from China by March 2019: Lite Ferry 5 and Lite Ferry 9.
This was announced last Saturday, November 17, by Lite Shipping Corp. president and CEO Lucio Lim Jr. following the launching of the M/V Lite Ferry 18, the youngest and the fastest vessel plying the Cebu-Cagayan de Oro route with a travel time of nine hours.
"Now we have a fleet of 25, we will be 27 by March. The world class ships that we have coming which are built in China, brand new," Lim said.
The Lite Ferry 9, to be deployed on February 2019, has a service speed of 12 knots and a passenger capacity of 400 and cargo capacity of 17 trucks.
The Lite Ferry 5, on the other hand, is to be deployed on March 2019. The ship has a service speed of 14 knots, with 500 passenger capacity and a cargo capacity of 23 trucks.
Lite Ferry 18
Last Saturday, the Lite Shipping Corp. officially launched the M/V Lite Ferry 18 at the port of Cagayan de Oro City.
The ship covers the Cebu to Cagayan de Oro route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., and Cagayan de Oro to Cebu route on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m.
"The passengers now are very demanding. We believe that the Cebu-Cagayan route, before we came in, we believe that it was not adequately serviced. So, you know when the service there is not as good, people will go to the airline," Lim said.
"Everybody can buy a new ship but having a good, friendly crew, maintaining cleanliness... these [are] what we want to deliver with this ship," he added.
According to Lim, Lite Ferry 18 is designed to get its passengers to their destination in a "very clean, comfortable and safe way."
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, for his part, described the entry of Lite Ferries as "strategic," saying that passengers who are heading to Davao or in Southern Mindanao find it easier to stop in Cagayan de Oro and take the land trip going to their intended destination.
Moreno was also grateful to Lite Ferries for helping Mindanao connect with Visayas and eventually to Luzon.
"Without connectivity, all of us are isolated from each other. Mindanao would be alone, each of the island of the Visayas would be alone and then Luzon would be alone. Without connectivity, we could not grow. In fact, I would say na the lack of connectivity had hampered the growth of our country," Moreno said.
"But today, as we see greater connectivity, not only by sea but also by land, we are witnessing the growth of our country. Mao nga dako ang akong pasalamat sa Lite Ferry for doing this," he added.
Lite Ferries 18 is 92 meters long and 17 meters wide coastwise type, roll-on-roll-off passenger ferry acquired from China.
The ship has economy passenger decks, tourist class, business class and cabin rooms which can accommodate a total of 856 passengers.