Roble Shipping Inc. will have its maiden voyage of the Tacloban-Cebu trip on Wednesday, the first passenger ship to operate at the city’s port since 2008.

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, Roble Shipping Inc. president and chief executive officer Jose Emery Roble and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez led on Tuesday the ribbon-cutting ceremony of M/V Claudine Star at the city port here.

“Let’s expect the influx of travelers and the stronger trade in our city, which will pave the way to further strengthen our economy and tourism,” Romualdez said.

Roble Shipping brought to the city this week the M/V Claudine Star, a newly refurbished 74-meter-long vessel operated by Star Philippine Inc., its sister company.

For over a decade, Cebu-bound people must travel more than two hours by land to Ormoc City port or ports in the southern part of Leyte Island to catch a boat ride to Cebu City.

The vessel sails from Cebu to Tacloban three times weekly every Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday. The ship leaves Cebu at 8 p.m. and arrives in Tacloban at 7 a.m.

From Tacloban, the ship leaves at 2:45 p.m. every Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday and arrives in Cebu at 2 a.m. the next day.

Tacloban port used to be one of the country’s busiest, with regular passenger sea vessel trips to Metro Manila and Cebu.

Since 2008, Tacloban has had no liners left when Sulpicio Lines was suspended from passenger operations that year after the MV Princess of the Stars sank during the onslaught of Typhoon Frank. It had been used only by cargo ships.

The MV Tacloban Princess was sold to a local breaker, according to research published online by the Philippine Ship Spotter’s Society. (PNA)