Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Shipping firms see increase By Malou M. Mozo Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TWO local shipping companies are anticipating an influx of passengers traveling this Holy Week, but officials from both firms are expecting relatively the same number of passengers this year.
Lite Shipping Corp. and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. officials are expecting an occupancy rate of more than 100 percent this year due to a huge volume of passengers boarding their vessels on tomorrow.
However, Mar Yan Rosales, Lite Shipping Corp. marketing officer, said the travel rush this week is “normal” since the Holy Week is usually considered the “busiest time” for Cebu’s shipping industry.
“We used to sell within our capacity but the Coast Guard has allowed us an additional 10 percent of passengers for the peak season,” he told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview yesterday.
Capacity
For its Tagbilaran, Bohol to Cebu route, two of its shipping vessels have a capacity of 580 and 280, respectively.
Lite Shipping ticket rates are at P207 for Tagbilaran-bound vessels and P135 for the Tubigon, Bohol route.
Rosales said the company, which has a fleet of seven vessels, has not increased its shipping rates in the last four years.
In a separate interview, Pink Sy, Trans Asia Shipping marketing manager, said as early as last week, 80 percent of their Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro trips have been booked for tomorrow, but she expects it will reach a 100 percent occupancy rate.
According to Sy, bookings for the air-conditioned accommodations where the first to be filled, but she is looking forward that even the non-air-conditioned seats will be filled this Wednesday.
Trip schedules
Rosales also said that although many have bought their tickets ahead of schedule to avoid the rush, “chance” passengers will be a common scenario in the port area.
“You will still find many passengers who don’t have the tickets but are willing to take the chance. Well, they will be at the mercy of the Coast Guard,” he said.
That is why Rosales advised travelers to buy tickets a day or two before the scheduled trip.
He announced, though, that Lite Shipping did not schedule a trip on Friday.
For Trans-Asia, Sy also said passenger vessels will not be available on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, the pier area may be crowded with passengers, who will be traveling to other neighboring provinces, but both Rosales and Sy believe the volume will decrease by Saturday to Monday.
“Since April 9 is still a holiday, some will still stay until Sunday evening. But on Saturday, we will be expecting some passengers to start returning to Cebu,” Sy said.
“It will be our other branches who will be busy for the return trips. But we already issued round trip tickets to lessen their burden,” Rosales said.
