Sea voyagers can now enjoy the newest addition to the fleet of Lite Shipping Corp. – Lite Ferries: the mv Lite Ferry Seven. With this new vessel, travelers can look forward to an even more thrilling and memorable adventure on the high seas.
The vessel was blessed and inaugurated on April 22, 2023, marking a significant milestone in Lite Shipping Corp.’s unwavering commitment to upgrading and modernizing its existing fleet with state-of-the-art vessels. Fondly dubbed “Ang Barkong Bol-anon,” the mv Lite Ferry Seven stands tall as a shining emblem of the company’s unwavering pursuit of excellence and unparalleled service.
It was built in China and completed in 2022 after being delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This 72-meter-long coastwise roll-on roll-off ferry has a gross registered tonnage of 2,450 tons that can accommodate 300 passengers, 18 10-wheeler trucks and 10 cars. It is classed by Royal Institute of Naval Architects (Rina) of Italy, and it has standard and tourist class accommodations with above Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) standards on passageways and bed bunks accommodations.
Lucio Enerio-Lim Jr., president and chief executive officer of Lite Ferries, said: “This vessel is really going to ply the route of Oslob, Cebu to Dapitan City and Dipolog City. There are two vessels that arrived. The other vessel, Lite Ferry Six, is going to have its blessing ceremonies in Sorsogon next month.”
Lim thanked the people who contributed to the construction of Lite Ferry Seven from the ship builders to engineers, and he also thanked the crew for their dedicated excellence. He also recognized prominent names such as Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, Miss Earth 2020 Roxie Smith, Marina Administrator Atty. Hernani Fabia, Bohol Provincial Administrator Aster Cabarte and former Bohol mayor Baba Yap.
In a speech, Senator Tulfo spoke of his time as a journalist and emphasized how his program, “Raffy Tulfo in Action,” solved plenty of cases regarding marine vessels that did not comply with basic safety protocols. He added: “That’s why I’m glad to see that there are modern, durable and safe vessels like the mv Lite Ferry Seven which people need.”
Lite Ferries operates one of the youngest fleets in the country, with almost half of the fleet acquired brand new and one-fourth of the fleet below 20 years of age upon acquisition. This was the result of the company’s re-fleeting program over the past 10 years.
Lite Ferries is now connecting the island of Bohol to the rest of the country, operating in 32 destinations. Lite Ferries has been bridging the provinces of Sorsogon, Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte as part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.
Marina granted the vessel pioneering status in the routes of Oslob, Cebu to Dapitan City and Dipolog City. The company is also a proud member of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association Inc. (SPONSORED CONTENT)