Sara, Imee laud domestic shipping for safe sea travels

CEBU, Philippines —  Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos have both thanked the owner of a shipping company for its commitment in putting safety and security as a premium in its transportation business.

The officials attended yesterday the inauguration and blessing of Lite Shipping Lines’ latest ship, M/V LiteCat 2.

“As it sails, may passengers enjoy the comfort and safety of sea travel. You put a premium in safety as it is essential to our economy. Thank you for heeding the call of President Marcos to modernize the domestic shipping sector and for supporting the maritime industry development plan,” said Duterte.

Senator Marcos also congratulated Lucio “Jun” Lim, the owner of Lite Shipping Lines, for another milestone.

The senator said since she was a kid she was roaming around the country from island to island and she sees the importance of connectivity.

“The country needed connectivity and this is what Jun Lim is doing by providing passage perhaps better than the government,” the lady senator said, adding, “I fully appreciate your extraordinary service that you provide to our people”.

Lite Shipping Corporation, operating under the brand name Lite Ferries, “Ang Barkong Bol-anon”, is continually expanding and bringing in world class brand new ships to its fleet.

In a statement, the company said that MV LiteCat 2 is built by PT Karimun Anugrah Sejati, one of the largest shipyards in Indonesia. This 71.4 meter long coastwise Ro-Ro Catamaran ferry has a GRT of 1,547 tons that can accommodate 453 passengers, 12 units of heavy trucks and 20 light vehicles or 60 cars.

It is classed during its construction by Lloyd’s Register of London and it has 3 classes of accommodation to ensure your comfort.

The economy class located at the bridge or sun deck lets you experience the cool sea breeze while giving you a wonderful vantage point of the horizon and sea views.

The tourist class on the upper deck provides a fully-air conditioned area with German designed seats with food trays.

Additionally, there are now tables to cater to the convenience of passengers traveling in groups or as families.

The business class has its own exclusive area that offers a deluxe experience with reclining German designed couches that exude comfort and class with retractable food trays to provide you space for work, eat and play.

Also available is a VIP lounge located at the bridge deck to those who want a more exclusive comfort.

LiteCat 2 offers passengers an unprecedented feature of uninterrupted Wi-Fi access during the whole trip, a first in inter-island sea travel, made possible by Starlink technology.

Snacks and refreshments are available in the café lounge and snack bar now equipped with tables for passenger convenience located at the main deck area.

Among the unique features of LiteCat 2 from all other vessels in its class is its wider and more spacious passage ways and in between seats legroom which are all way above MARINA standards.

The launch is expected to be a grand event, with many attendees, including representatives from the maritime industry led by MARINA Administrator, Atty. Hernani N. Fabia, and local government officials, namely: Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Cebu 3rd District Representative Pablo John Garcia and Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Eduardo Rama Jr.

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 the past ten years.

Lite Ferries is now bridging the island of Cebu 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 route of Cebu City to Tubigon, Bohol and vice -versa daily.

The company, with a new slogan, “Bridging Islands, Connecting Lives” is a proud member of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association, Inc. (CEBU NEWS)