Lite Ferries set to launch brand-new RINA class ship

In its 29th year, Lite Shipping Corporation is on schedule to showcase its new world-class ship. Embarking on a new chapter of “Sailing Bigger, Faster and Better”, with the forthcoming launching of its latest acquisition, the newly built “M/V LITE FERRY FIVE” on Monday, November 18, 2019, on board the vessel at the Port of Cebu.

Lite Ferries set to launch brand-new RINA class ship

The ceremonial ribbon cutting will be done by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Z. Duterte assisted by Hon. Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, House of Congress and MARINA ADMINISTRATOR VADM Narciso A. Vingson, Jr. The launching will be headed by the President/ CEO of Lite Ferries, Lucio E. Lim, Jr. together with COO Fernando A. Inting, VP Operations Jonathan Lim-Imboy, Commercial Operations head – Jethro Nathaniel Lim-Imboy.

Completed in 2019, Lite Ferry Five is a brand-new 75 meters long RO-RO passenger coastwise ship, with a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 2,895 tons built in China but classed by RINA of Italy. It has wide passageways on its passenger decks and a spacious cargo deck that can accommodate 540 passengers and 23 10-wheeler trucks. It has a maximum speed of 15 knots and a service speed of 13 to 14 knots.

The vessel was granted “Pioneering Status Protection” by MARINA in the route of Oslob, Cebu to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte under EO 909 and MC 2015-4. But the vessel will temporarily take the Oslob, Cebu to Dapitan City route pending the dredging completion of the Dipolog Port under the supervision of LGU of Dipolog City. It has a travel time of only 4 hours linking Northern Mindanao much closer to Cebu Province.

Likewise, Lite Ferries is also expecting the arrival in December 2019 of its second brand-new vessel, “M/V LITE FERRY NINE, a 70 meters long coastwise RO-RO ferry, with a GRT of 2,107 tons also built in China and classed by the Bureau Veritas of France. It can accommodate 400 passengers and 17 10-wheeler trucks. The deployment will be in January 2020. It has a service speed of 12 knots. The vessel will be deployed to service the Jagna, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro City route on a pioneering status by MARINA.

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With a total of seven ships acquired brand-new in the past 5 years, including its flagship vessel “M/V Lite Ferry 88” plus the six other vessels which were all below 20 years old upon acquisition, Lite Ferries now operates one of the youngest fleets in the Philippines. Lite Shipping Corporation – Lite Ferries is a proud member of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association, Inc. (PCSA).