Serviced by Star Philippines shipping lines: Cebu City-Tacloban City route back

CEBU, Philippines — After several years, the Cebu City-Tacloban City sea route is back.

This development is expected to boost the economies and tourism of both cities, which are hubs of their respective regions.

This, after Cebu-based ferry operator Star Philippines Shipping Lines, Inc. inaugurated last Tuesday MV Claudine Star at Tacloban City’s port. The vessel that has an overall length of 74.3 meters, a breadth of 12.2 meters and a depth displacement of 7.2 meters.

MV Claudine Star made its maiden voyage at 2 p.m. last Wednesday, September 11, from Tacloban City, and arrived in Cebu City at midnight.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, who was present during the ceremony, the return of the route after it was cut in 1986 would bring down the prices of goods, improve tourism, and spur more economic activity in the city as well its neighboring local government units, which are set to benefit from this latest development in maritime transportation.

 “I think it is important that there is a direct line of transportation sa atong mga negosyante, sa atong mga merchants ug sa atong mga pasahero,” he said.

“Malaki ang pasalamat ko ni Mr. Joy Roble because of this. I am confident that this will be patronized at maraming makikinabang dito sa biyaheng ito,” he added.

Currently, travelers from Leyte who are bound for Cebu travels more than two hours by land to Ormoc City or to Hilongos City before taking a boat to Cebu City.

First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos; Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go; Raymund Romualdez, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Tacloban City; the entire Roble Family; and several stakeholders also attended the event last Tuesday.

Jose Emery “Joy” Roble, chief executive officer and owner of Star Philippines Shipping Lines Inc., the sister company of Roble Shipping Lines, said they opened the Cebu City-Tacloban City and vice versa route as they believed there is a necessity and a market for this route.

Jacqueline Claudine Uy Roble, vice president for administration and finance, on the other hand, provided a light-hearted topic, saying the vessel is named after her and not after famous actress Claudine Barreto.  Jacqueline is the second daughter of the ship’s owner.

According to the Philippine Ship Spotters Society (PSSS), the reestablishment of the sea route is a great development in the shipping industry, as this “will be a revival of an old route that will connect Cebu and Tacloban, Leyte, which was abandoned by shipping companies due to the rising popularity of Ormoc as the shipment hub of Leyte from Cebu, as well as the improvement of the road network from Ormoc to Tacloban.”

The Maritime Industry Authority-8 also said that its presence during the event highlighted its role in “overseeing and regulating the maritime industry, ensuring that shipping operations adhere to safety standards and contribute positively to regional economic development.”

MV Claudine Star, a roll on-roll off (RORO) passenger ship built in Japan, will pass through the iconic San Juanico Bridge that connects the Leyte and Samar provinces which only few people can experience due to the lack of passenger ferry services in Tacloban City, Leyte.

The refurbished vessel will service the Cebu City-Tacloban City route and vice versa three times a week, or every Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesday from Tacloban at 2:45 p.m., and Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays from Cebu City at 8 p.m. The trip will take approximately 11 hours.

“This development means a lot to our passengers and the shipping community, as the company revives an old route that connects Cebu and Tacloban City, Leyte which was abandoned by the industry in favor of Ormoc port, it becoming the province's main shipment hub,” said Jose Emery “Joy” Roble, former mayor of Hilongos, Leyte.

Currently, Star Philippines Shipping Lines Inc. operates 10 varied types of ships such as, RORO passenger liners and general cargo vessels for tramping, tugging, and barging. – RHM (CEBU NEWS)