Shipping firm invests $20 million to upgrade fleet

CEBU, Philippines — In answer to the government’s call for quality sea transport facilities, Lite Shipping Corporation invested around $20 million for the acquisition of three world-class vessels.

By April this year, the shipping firm will operate a world-class and, so far, the biggest RoRo catamaran passenger ferry for the Cebu-Tubigon-Cebu route, said company president Lucio Roger E. Lim Jr., in a press conference.

The first of the three ships, the Lite Ferry 88, is the company's first foray to modernized sea transportation facilities, as two more world-class vessels will arrive in the next few months, said Lim.

Combined, the three new vessels incurred the company an investment of at least $20 million, excluding the payments of taxes and duties and other additional acquisition expenses.

Lite Ferry 88 (LF88) is a mid-speed RoRo catamaran ferry that can travel at a speed of 16 knots on average, with maximum capacity of 18 knots.

According to Lim, the LF88's cargo carrying capacity is twice compared to other similarly designed RoRo catamaran ferries now operating in the Philippines.

It also has a capacity of carrying 352 passengers, and can take in rolling cargo loads of 12 units of ten-wheeler trucks plus 20 light vehicles altogether.

LF88 was acquired by the company from Sealease Limited of Hong Kong and upgraded by the Sea Transport Solutions of Australia for its passenger accommodation and vessel amenities.

According to Sea Transport Solutions of Australia, the LF88 is considered as the biggest in its class at present.

Sea Transport Solutions of Australia is the leading designer of mid-speed RoRo catamaran in the Philippines.

The other vessels that are still scheduled to arrive in Cebu port in October 2018, are Lite Ferry 5 and Lite Ferry 9, that will aid the shipping company's move to expand number of route destinations in Visayas and Mindanao.