HIROSHIMA, Japan — Batangas-based shipping firm Starlite Ferries Inc. on Wednesday (Manila time) acquired its second brand new Roll-On Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) vessel from a Japanese shipbuilder as part of a bigger push to modernize the Philippine maritime industry and improve its safety record.
Starlite Ferries chair Alfonso Cusi led the ceremonies to the launch of the M/V Starlite Reliance, which was the second of seven Ro-Ro ships of her class, designed specifically for operating in notoriously rough waters within the Philippine archipelago.
“Our goal is to push the local shipping industry to become more modern and safer,” he said in an interview with the Inquirer. “We want everyone to start moving away from buying second-hand Japanese vessels, many of which are flat-bottomed vessels suited only for calm inland waters.”
Cusi explained the Starlite Reliance — like its sister ship, the Starlite Pioneer, which started plying the Caticlan-Roxas, Mindoro route on Dec. 22, 2015–can easily withstand waves of up to 2 meters without causing discomfort to its passengers.
All told, the 100-ton vessel can ferry an estimated 750 passengers comfortably on its upper decks and up to 22 buses in its hold.
After Wednesday’s launch, the vessel is now being installed with internal fittings by its builder, Kegoya Dock Co. Ltd., and will be delivered for service to Starlite by March 2016.
Cusi said the company has yet to determine which route the Starlite Reliance will ply. He added this decision will be determined ultimately by market demand. TVJ
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