New direct Ro-Ro service launched between Philippines' Luzon and Mindanao islands

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recently launched a new direct Ro-Ro shipping route between the Philippines' Luzon and Mindanao islands with the aim of decongesting truck traffic that passes through some of the provinces in the Visayas regions.

The 85-metre, 2,024GT Ro-Ro vessel 1018 operated by Manila-based Seen Sam Shipping departed the Port of Lipata in Surigao Del Norte province and sailed northwards on the inaugural voyage of the new service late last week. It arrived at the Port of Bulan in Sorsogon around 21 hours later.

The PPA said this is the first Ro-Ro service between Luzon and Mindanao that would not include the route that passes through the adjacent provinces of Samar and Leyte in the Visayas.

The route through Samar and Leyte has become congested following the temporary closure of the two-kilometre-long San Juanico Bridge that links the two provinces.

The PPA expects that Seen Sam Shipping will delegate another vessel to operate on the same route in the coming weeks.