By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – M/V Starlite Venus, a P900-million Japan-made passenger and cargo vessel of Starlite Ferries, launched its Bacolod-Batangas maiden trip Sunday.
Chryss Alfonso Damuy, President and CEO of Chelsea Logistics Corp that owns Starlite Ferries, together with Shane Anthony Arante, general manager of Starlite Ferries, and the ship master Capt. Ariel Ganalde lead the launching at the BREDCO port.
Ganalde said he steered the vessel from Japan to the Philippines for four days.
Damuy said M/V Starlite Venus is a brand-new passenger and cargo vessel designed for Philippine waters.
It was built in 2019 in Kegoya, Japan.
Damuy also said that M/V Starlite Venus is the 9th brand new vessel made in Japan and the 12th brand new vessel among its fleet.
As part of Chelsea Logistics’ fleet modernization program, Starlite Ferries fortifies its commitment to providing brand new and younger vessels to ensure faster, more efficient, and most importantly, safer sea travel for Filipinos.
M/V Starlite Venus leaves for Batangas from Bacolod every Friday (6pm) and Sunday (12 pm).
It also travels from Batangas to Iloilo every Thursday and Saturday at 12 pm and Iloilo to Bacolod every Friday and Sunday at 6 am.
On hand to welcome the new vessel were BREDCO director Willie Au, George Zuluete representing Bacolod mayor Evelio Leonardia and Philippine Coast Guard officials.
