Oceanjet and Super Shuttle will launch their maiden voyage from Liloan’s Pier 88 to Poro, Camotes Islands this coming March 26, Friday.
This was the commitment given by the shipping operators, Pier 88, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and Ceres during their meeting with Gov. Gwen Garcia on Thursday, May 18.
The governor asked their commitment after the much-awaited launch was postponed last May 5.
Gov. Gwen had pushed for this service to start as soon as possible as many locals and travelers alike have long been waiting for this.
The governor is making this happen to give Cebuanos a better alternative to reach Camotes and break the monopoly by Jomalia Shipping, currently the lone operator plying the mainland-Camotes route.
Schedule
The two shipping companies will ply the Liloan-Camotes-Liloan route once daily.
For Oceanjet, its Liloan-Poro route will depart at 8:30 a.m. The return trip will depart at 1 p.m. on the same day.
Marina committed to issue the necessary permits for these routes.
LTFRB, for its part, has already issued a franchise to Ceres buses that will also board the roro vessel.
They’ll be traveling the Cebu City-Liloan-Camotes route.
Earlier, Oceanjet made a one round-trip sea trial to Camotes.
Its vessel, which can carry up to 350 passengers, has a travel speed of 22 knots (around 40km/hr) that can traverse the expanse of space between the two islands in just an hour and 30 minutes. | Carlo Lorenciana