Lite Ferries launches bigger ship for Cebu to Ormoc

Lite Ferries launches its another bigger RORO-passenger ship, the newly renovated "M/V LITE FERRY 19", a twin sister ship of Lite Ferry 18.

Lite Ferry is the youngest and fastest ferry plying the Cebu_Ormoc route (year built 2002) and the fastest vessel to date with a travel time 4 hours and a half. The vessel is equipped with 2 brand-new Ningbo diesel engines (built 2017) with a total power of 7,800 HP. It has a maximum speed of 16.8 knots and service speed of 15 knots.

With a gross tonnage of 3,881 tons, the vessel is 92 meters long and 17 meters wide coastwise type, RO-RO passenger ferry acquired from China. It is now locally classed but undergoing transfer of classification to AICS Class by RINA of Italy.

 

Lite Ferry 19 boasts of Interior designed accommodations with hotel-like features and amenities like a fully air-conditioned 40-seater restaurant, a fully stocked canteen that is open overnight, an information desk and multi-purpose kiosk. It has two economy passenger decks including a tourist class, business class and four executive cabin rooms that can accommodate a total of 856 passengers. Its deck pathways have bigger spaces than Marina standards and its facilities are international maritime standards complaint.

It will be covering the regular schedule of Cebu City to Ormoc City daily at 11:00 AM and from Ormoc City to Cebu City at 11:00 PM.

Incoming Brand New Vessels 

Lite Ferries continues to improve its existing fleet by acquiring more vessels.

Expected to arrive in the 3rd quarter of 2019 are two brand-new IACS classed RORO passenger ferries, namely the Lite Ferry 5 and the Lite Ferry 9.

The Lite Ferry 5 has a GRT of 2,895 tons and two units of Weichai main engines with a total horsepower of 3,800 HP, a service speed of 14 knots, with a capacity of 500 passenger and 23 trucksfor cargo. It is classed by IACS-member RINA of Italy)

On the other hand, Lite Ferry 9 has a GRT of 1,666 tons, with two units of Weichai main engines and total horsepower of 2,500 HP, a service speed of 12 knots, and a passenger capacity of 400 and cargo capacity of 17 trucks. It is classed by Bureau Veritas of France.

Both are scheduled to be deployed this year.

At present, Lite Ferries operates a total of 25 RORO-passenger ships in Visayas and Northern Mindanao. These vessels connect the islands of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros, Samar, Leyte and Northern Mindanao with a total of 22 destinations.

It is fully compliant with the International Safety Management Code (ISM) as established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and MARINA. Lite Ferries is also currently undergoing ISO Certification for its operations.

Brief History of LITE Ferries

Lite Shippings Corporation with its official brand name "LITE FERRIES" has grown to be a major maritime transport company with primarily area of operations in the Visayas and northern Mindanao.

Its beginnings can be traced in 1990, when the company acquired its first RO-RO cargo passenger route. Formerly named LCT St. Mark, the vessel was a former US Navy Light Carrier Transport (LCT) that has a capacity of 4 Ten wheeler cargo trucks with cars and 50 to 70 passengers.

The vessel has since been since been rebuilt and renamed "Lite Ferry 20" and can now accommodate almost double its original capacity.

Lite Ferries founder, President and CEO Lucio E. Lim Jr. has guided the company for the past twenty-nine years. His vision has steered the company to its continued growth and expansion of its fleet and operations. The company's quality performance has also been outstanding as Lite Ferries has become synonymous to excellent service, safe, clean and comfortable travel.

Over the years, Lite Ferries has started acquiring younger, faster world-class RO-RO passenger vessels as teh company initiated a fleet modernization program; in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's call to modernize the domestic fleet. 

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Lite Ferries' main ticketing office is lcoated at the Lite Ferries Corporate Building, Lite Port Center, M.J. Cuenco Ave., Barangay Tejero, Cebu City.

For booking and inquiries, you may visit their website at www.liteferries.com.ph.

Fin-tech Dragonpay gathers top digital platforms in Cebu summit

Seven key players of e-commerce and social media platforms will be helping grow local SMEs withthe latest in finance technology during the first DIGIBEEZ Summit last March 20, 2019, at Seda Hotel, Cebu City.

The digital business summit organized by the local finance technology firm Dragonpay is expected to gather Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Central Visayas.

With theme “Digibeez: Growing the hive of finance technology”, Dragonpay aims to connect with local businesses and share fintech best practices through the event.

With speakers from reknowned e-commerce and social media platforms such as Samuel Jeanblanc, Market Lead of Google Philippines; Ash Mandhyan, Client Solutions Head of Facebook; Marwin Malako, Head of Sales, Shopee; Allan Brizuela, President of Black Arrow; Itamar Gero, Founder and CEO of Truelogic; Ron Baetiong, Founder and CEO of Chatbox PH, Denise Haak, CEO of Quiddity, and Nagesh Devata, Director of Paypal Southeast Asia, we are optimistic that this event will open better business opportunities for the local business sector,” said Robertson Chiang, founder and COO of Dragonpay Corp.

“This event will help entreprenuers and business community learn ways to increase revenue and expand their business through online payments and related services”, Chiang added.

Dragonpay is a Filipino-owned finance company that helps facilitate alternative payment schemes for online shoppers without bank accounts or credit cards. Its mission is to make e-commerce available to all Filipinos.

For over eight years, Dragonpay has become a trailblazer in the finance technology (fintech) industry with over 118 million completed transactions and 11 million unique users, most of whom are based in the Philippines. With this success, Dragonpay has created a buzzing hive for local businesses

THE SPEAKERS

my Art, my SM, my City at SM Cebu

"My City, My SM, My Art"

Launched last March 2, 2019 celebrates the works of artists all over Visayas. 

The exhibit highlights the works of nine artists, including the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculptor" Napoleon Abueva, and the "Father of Contenporary Philippine Printmaking" Manuel Rodriquez Sr.

The exhibit also features the works of Dante Enage of Leyte, Kitty Tanuguchi of Dumaguete City, Henry Cainglet of Bohol and Jun Impas, Celso Pepito and Adeste Deguilmo of Cebu.

Michael Albano, a young student artist, won the community-based art contest which is also part of a "My City, My SM, My Art" campaign.

A celebration of Philippine visual arts, the My City, My SM, My Art is a joint project of SM, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Shell Companies of the Philippine, and Philippine Star, with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Centerstage Productions.

While they represent different genres - Abueva is considered the Father of Modern Philippine Sculptor, and Rodriguez is known as the Father of Contemporary Philippine Printmaking - their contribution to the Philippine art is invaluable. And they have brought much pride to their respective home provinces of Bohol and Cebu with their amazing masterpieces.

The exhibit will also highlight the works of Martino Abellana, dean of Cebuano painters, who has taught and influenced the entire generation of Cebuano artists. Joining them in the celebration of Eastern and Central Visayan artistry are Dante Enage of Leyte, Kitty Taniguchi of Dumaguete City, Henri Cainglet of Bohol, and well as Jun Impas, Celso Pepito, and Adeste Deguilmo fo Cebu.