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M/V Lite Ferry Twenty entered service on the Batangas City-Caticlan route, strengthening a key maritime link between Luzon and Western Visayas
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The Maritime Industry Authority granted the Lite Ferry Corporation-owned Ro-Ro vessel “pioneering status” for introducing an upgraded service on the route
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The vessel can carry 578 passengers, 30 ten-wheeler trucks, and four passenger vehicles per voyage
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It is the newest and biggest vessel of Lite Ferry
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MARINA said the vessel will improve passenger mobility and cargo movement while supporting tourism, trade, and regional economic activity
Lite Shipping Corporation’s M/V Lite Ferry Twenty has entered service on the Batangas City-Caticlan route, strengthening a key maritime link between Luzon and Western Visayas and providing additional capacity for passenger and cargo movement.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) welcomed the new roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel, saying it will boost connectivity along the Batangas-Caticlan corridor, a gateway for tourism, trade, and regional activity.
MARINA granted M/V Lite Ferry Twenty “pioneering status” in recognition of the upgraded shipping service it introduced on the route.
MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan highlighted that the importance of a new vessel goes beyond just expanding the country’s domestic fleet.
Each vessel, she said, “carries not only passengers and cargo, but also opportunities, livelihoods, and hope for millions of Filipinos.”
“With the introduction of M/V Lite Ferry Twenty, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing inter-island connectivity, supporting tourism and trade, and delivering safer, more efficient, and more comfortable sea travel for every Filipino,” the shipping firm said in a social media post.
M/V Lite Ferry Twenty can accommodate 578 passengers, 30 ten-wheeler trucks, and four passenger vehicles per voyage, providing additional capacity for travelers and commercial cargo between Luzon and Western Visayas.
The vessel is classified by the maritime industry authority of Italy under the International Association of Classification Societies, one of the world’s leading ship classification organizations. The classification signifies compliance with internationally recognized standards for ship design, construction, and safety.
Finished in January 2026, the vessel is 90 meters long and 20 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of 3,923 tons.
It includes wider passageways, more spacious passenger areas, improved safety features, and both standard and tourist-class accommodations that go beyond MARINA’s minimum standards.
MARINA stated that the vessel’s entry into service demonstrates ongoing private-sector investment in modernizing the domestic shipping fleet. This also supports government initiatives to offer safer, more reliable, and globally competitive maritime transport.
READ: Lite Ferries expanding fleet with new ropax vessel
The agency added that investments in modern vessels such as M/V Lite Ferry Twenty will help strengthen inter-island connectivity, support regional economic activity, and improve the travel experience of passengers.
