New Daily Ferry Service to Directly Connect Mindanao and Luzon, Bypassing San Juanico Bridge Restrictions

SURIGAO CITY – A significant development in inter-island travel and logistics is on the horizon as a new daily ferry service prepares to launch, offering a direct link between Surigao City in Mindanao and Bulan, Sorsogon in Luzon. This innovative service will provide a crucial alternative for logistical companies and travelers currently contending with persistent load limitations on the San Juanico Bridge.

Seen Sam Shipping Inc., a Cebu-based company, is spearheading this initiative, deploying two large-capacity Landing Craft Transport (LCT) vessels to offer daily Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) services. The primary objective of this new route is to mitigate the logistical challenges and bottlenecks that have arisen due to the temporary restrictions imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, which serves as a vital connection between Samar and Leyte.

The new route will operate between the Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City and Bulan, Sorsogon. The Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao has already issued the necessary certificate of berth allocation for Seen Sam Shipping's vessels, a prerequisite for obtaining clearance from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Given the urgent need for this direct service to alleviate current logistical strains, MARINA is expected to grant the necessary approvals swiftly.

With an estimated sailing time of 21 hours, this direct ferry service is poised to be a "game-changer" for Philippine inter-island travel and commerce. It promises a more efficient and direct route for the movement of goods and passengers between Mindanao and Luzon, effectively bypassing the need to traverse the San Juanico Bridge.

According to Seen Sam Shipping's initial schedule, LCT 1018 will commence its first trip from Bulan to Lipata at 5:00 AM, while LCT 1070 will simultaneously depart from Lipata for Bulan at the same time.

This new service comes as a direct and timely response to the ongoing operational challenges at the San Juanico Bridge. The imposed load limitations have created significant bottlenecks for cargo transport between the country's major island groups, prompting logistics companies to actively seek more reliable and efficient alternative routes.

The direct Surigao-Sorsogon connection is anticipated to significantly streamline cargo movement and reduce the delays that have increasingly impacted supply chains across the Philippine archipelago. For businesses and freight operators, this new route offers enhanced flexibility and reliability in their inter-island logistics operations, ultimately contributing to a more robust and resilient national supply chain.

Vessel Schedule

Vessel Schedule Details

Vessel 1: LCT-1018

Route: Bulan, Sorsogon ↔ Lipata, Surigao (21 hours per trip)

Vessel 2: LCT-1070 (or Substitute: LCT-1020)

Route: Lipata, Surigao ↔ Bulan, Sorsogon (21 hours per trip)

Observations:

1. Symmetric Schedule: Both vessels follow the same timing pattern but in opposite directions.
2. No Saturday Departures: Neither vessel has trips starting on Saturday.
3. Overnight Journeys: All trips take 21 hours, arriving early morning the next day.
4. Sunday Exception: Only one-way trips (no return) for both vessels.

VEHICLE TYPES	RATES
6 WHEELER
Bongo	₱18,000
Canter , ELF, Forward	₱30,000
SW Truck / 10 Wheeler Truck / Bus	₱41,000
TRAILER TRUCK 20 FOOTER
With Head	₱44,000
Without Head	₱37,000
TRAILER TRUCK 30 - 40 FOOTER
With Head	₱48,000
Without Head	₱44,000
TRAILER TRUCK LOW/HIGH BED
With Heavy Equipment (Big)	₱115,000
With Heavy Equipment (Small)	₱85,000

For real-time updates, confirm with the shipping company before travel. Tel: (032) 268 9100 \ Mobile: 09542361825

Lipata Port

Matias Namfrel - 09667533247 / 09605435985

Bulan Port

Gino - 09273510068 / 09183907861

OTHER OPTION ROUTE :  MATNOG TO PALOMPON LEYTE bypassing San Juanico Bridge