Date of Release:

๐‘†โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘๐‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘š๐‘  ๐‘๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘™๐‘’๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘™, ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘”๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘”๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘๐‘’๐‘ 

New passenger ships and digital ticketing systems are changing how domestic shipping companies move people across the country, with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) recognizing firms that have invested in fleet renewal and technology.

10 shipping companies were recognized for acquiring 17 brand-new, International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)-classed roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger vessels from 2024 to 2026.

The recognition was given during MARINAโ€™s Awards and Appreciation Night in Manila, 24 September 2026.

The new vessels, deployed on domestic routes, add newer ships to the countryโ€™s passenger fleet as operators continue to invest in vessel replacement and expansion.

Among the companies recognized were Montenegro Shipping Lines, Lite Shipping Corporation, Medallion Transport, ALD Sea Transport, Aleson Shipping Lines, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Guardian Four Aces Shipping, Starlite Ferries, Besta Shipping Lines and Roble Shipping.

Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. and Lite Shipping Corporation received additional recognition for acquiring multiple brand-new vessels during the period.

๐ƒ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก

The awards also put the spotlight on efforts to move passenger services from paper-based transactions to digital platforms.

Guimaras Island Transport Multipurpose Cooperative (GITMPC) was recognized for pioneering the use of a Near Field Communication (NFC)-based โ€œTap and Sailโ€ card system for tickets and electronic passenger manifests.

Bamosa Marine Transport Corp. and sole proprietor Ms. Margie Tenorio were likewise recognized for subsequently adopting NFC-based electronic card systems for passenger services.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., together with its subsidiaries Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Starlite Ferries and SuperCat Fast Ferry Corp., was recognized for being the first compliant of MARINAโ€™s Shipping Online Ticketing System (SOTS) under the agencyโ€™s new regulations.

The system is designed to make ticketing more transparent and efficient while giving passengers another digital option for booking domestic sea travel.

๐Œ๐จ๐๐ž๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐œ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ 

MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan stated, โ€œthe acquisition of brand-new, IACS-classed passenger ships and the adoption of digital solutions reflect the industryโ€™s continued investment in safer, more reliable, and more efficient maritime transportation services for the Filipino public.โ€

Malaluan led the ceremony together with Deputy Administrator for Operations Retired Rear Admiral Loumer P. Bernabe and Domestic Shipping Service Director Annabell P. Lagas.

View pictures here