Roble Shipping
Roble Shipping is a Cebu-based Philippine shipping company operating passenger, roll-on/roll-off, landing-craft and cargo services across central and southern Philippine routes.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Roble Shipping Inc. is a privately held Philippine shipping company headquartered in Cebu City. Founded by Jose L. Roble, a native of Danao, Cebu, the company began operations on February 20, 1985, with a small cargo vessel, MV Marao. The vessel carried rice and mixed freight between Cebu and Iloilo, establishing a business model based on the movement of essential goods between Philippine islands. The company subsequently expanded from small-scale cargo transport into a broader inter-island shipping operation. Its principal commercial importance has been on routes linking Cebu with Leyte and nearby islands, where sea transport is an important part of passenger mobility and regional freight distribution. Roble's service portfolio has included conventional cargo shipping, passenger transport, and roll-on/roll-off or RORO operations capable of carrying vehicles and passengers. The company has also operated landing craft, barges and tugboats, giving it equipment suited to both scheduled transport and marine support activities. Roble's Cebu base is Pier 7, where the company moved its operations in 2010. Cebu serves as its principal hub and connects with ports including Ormoc, Hilongos, Baybay and Naval in Biliran. The company's route network has changed over time; Oroquieta, Catbalogan and Tacloban are identified as former ports of call. Current route information associates MV Immaculate Stars with the Cebu–Ormoc service, MV Theresian Stars and MV Joyful Stars with Cebu–Hilongos, and MV Graceful Stars and MV Gracious Stars with services toward Baybay and Naval. Fleet references describe a current operating group of eight RORO/ROPAX vessels, two landing craft tanks and eight cargo ships, with some vessels operated in connection with sister company Star Philippines Shipping Lines. Named vessels include the RORO ships Immaculate Stars, Theresian Stars, Joyful Stars, Ocean Stars, Beautiful Stars and Graceful Stars; the landing craft LCT Stars and LCT Stars II; and cargo ships such as Star Zamboanga, Star Ormoc, Star Hilongos, Star Ozamis, Star Danao, Star Davao, Star Iligan and Star Dinagat. Fleet composition is subject to change as vessels are transferred, renamed, retired or assigned to affiliated operations. Jose L. Roble died on September 11, 2009, at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital at age 62. Following his death, his sons and daughters continued to hold important roles in directing the business. The Durano family is also credited with helping establish the company in its early years, although the available reference material does not identify specific positions or ownership percentages. The company's history includes a number of marine incidents involving vessels in its historical or current fleet, including mechanical failure, collisions, fires, capsizing and weather-related damage. These reports form part of the operational history of a shipping line working in busy and weather-sensitive Philippine waters; the available material does not establish that the incidents were caused by a common corporate policy or that they resulted in a formal finding of systemic misconduct. Roble Shipping remains an operating inter-island carrier focused on passenger, vehicle and cargo movement from its Cebu base.
History
Roble Shipping was established on February 20, 1985, by Jose L. Roble, a native of Danao, Cebu. Its first reported vessel was MV Marao, a small cargo ship used on the Cebu–Iloilo route to transport rice and mixed cargo. The early business was therefore oriented toward the movement of basic commodities rather than solely toward passenger travel. The company expanded as an inter-island operator and developed a stronger presence on routes serving Leyte and Samar. Its activities grew to include passenger vessels, RORO and ROPAX ships, cargo vessels, barges and tugboats. This combination allowed the business to serve both scheduled passenger traffic and freight demand between islands. Cebu became the central operating base, and in 2010 the company moved its operations to a new headquarters at Pier 7. Jose L. Roble died on September 11, 2009, at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital at the age of 62. His sons and daughters subsequently took important roles in managing and steering the company. The available historical account also credits the Duranos with assisting in the company's formative years, but does not provide sufficient detail to describe their exact corporate roles. Roble's route footprint has included Cebu connections with Ormoc, Hilongos, Baybay and Naval in Biliran. Earlier port calls included Oroquieta, Catbalogan and Tacloban. The fleet has changed over time through vessel retirements, renamings, transfers and affiliations. Fleet references identify eight RORO/ROPAX vessels, two landing craft tanks and eight cargo ships in the current operating group, including vessels associated with sister company Star Philippines Shipping Lines. The company's historical fleet included vessels such as MV Marao, MV Heaven Star, MV Ormoc Star, MV Oroquieta Stars, MV Guada Cristy, MV Cebu Diamond, MV Wonderful Stars, MV Sacred Stars, MV Blessed Stars, MV Hilongos Diamond, MV Jacqueline Star, MV Star Sabang, MV Twinkle Little Stars and MV Claudine Stars. The present fleet references include RORO vessels named Immaculate Stars, Theresian Stars, Joyful Stars, Ocean Stars, Beautiful Stars and Graceful Stars; landing craft named LCT Stars and LCT Stars II; and cargo ships including Star Zamboanga, Star Ormoc, Star Hilongos, Star Ozamis, Star Danao, Star Davao, Star Iligan and Star Dinagat. Several vessel incidents have been reported across the company's operating history. These include a mechanical failure involving MV Heaven Star in 2008, collisions involving MV Wonderful Star or MV Wonderful Stars in 2008 and 2009, a fire involving MV Wonderful Stars in 2015, storm-related damage to LCT Jacqueline Star in 2021, the capsizing of MV Oroquieta Stars during Typhoon Rai in 2021, the capsizing of MV Star Sabang in 2024, a collision involving MV Immaculate Stars in 2024, and later reported vessel incidents in 2025. The reference material does not provide adjudicated findings establishing a broader pattern of negligence or misconduct. Roble Shipping's continuing role is that of a regional Philippine sea carrier. Its Cebu-centered network supports passenger, vehicle and cargo movement between the central Philippine islands, with Leyte and Biliran remaining prominent destinations in the described service network.
- 2010
Operations move to Pier 7
[1]Roble Shipping moved its operations to a new headquarters at Pier 7.
- 2009
Death of founder
[1]Founder and owner Jose L. Roble died on September 11. His children subsequently assumed important roles in the business.
- 1985
Company established
[1]Jose L. Roble founded Roble Shipping on February 20, beginning with MV Marao and cargo service between Cebu and Iloilo.
Products and positioning
A regional Philippine inter-island shipping operator centered on Cebu and focused on connecting passengers, vehicles and cargo with Leyte, Biliran and other Visayan and Mindanao ports.
Passenger and vehicle shipping
RORO and ROPAX ferry services
Roble operates roll-on/roll-off and ROPAX vessels that combine passenger travel with the carriage of vehicles and other wheeled loads. The described network centers on Cebu routes to Ormoc, Hilongos, Baybay and Naval. Named vessels associated with this operating category include Immaculate Stars, Theresian Stars, Joyful Stars, Ocean Stars, Beautiful Stars and Graceful Stars.
Maritime freight · 1985
Cargo shipping
Cargo operations are part of Roble Shipping's original business and remain a core activity. The company began with MV Marao carrying rice and mixed cargo between Cebu and Iloilo. Later fleet references identify cargo ships including Star Zamboanga, Star Ormoc, Star Hilongos, Star Ozamis, Star Danao, Star Davao, Star Iligan and Star Dinagat.
Marine support and heavy cargo transport
Landing craft, barge and tugboat services
The company's described equipment includes landing craft tanks, barges and tugboats. These vessels complement scheduled ferry and cargo services by supporting the movement of heavy or difficult-to-handle loads and by providing marine support capacity. Current fleet references name LCT Stars and LCT Stars II.
Brand decisions
2010
Consolidation at a new Cebu headquartersStrategyBackground
After expanding beyond its original small-cargo operation, Roble Shipping required a larger central operating base for its inter-island activities.
Action taken
The company moved its operations to a new headquarters at Pier 7 in Cebu.
Aftermath
Pier 7 became the company's identified operating center. The supplied material does not quantify the investment or operational effects of the move.
Recent events
- 2025
Barge collision reportedly capsizes MV Claudine Stars[1]
Other
A barge described as out of control reportedly collided with MV Claudine Stars at Pier 7 in Mandaue, causing the vessel to capsize.
- 2025
MV Star Zamboanga collides with MV Filipinas Dapitan[1]
Other
MV Star Zamboanga reportedly lost steering control and collided with Cokaliong Shipping Lines' MV Filipinas Dapitan near Cebu's Ouano Wharf–Opon Wharf area. Both vessels were reported safe with minor damage.
- 2024
MV Star Sabang capsizes off Zamboanga del Norte[1]
Other
MV Star Sabang reportedly capsized near Bayangan Island, Labason, while traveling from Cebu toward Zamboanga with 13 crew members and a cargo of approximately 20,000 sacks of cement.
- 2024
MV Immaculate Stars collides with MV Doña Caroline Joy[1]
Other
MV Immaculate Stars collided with Gothong Southern's MV Doña Caroline Joy. Both vessels were reported to have sustained damage.
- 2021
LCT Jacqueline Star damaged during Tropical Storm Dante[1]
Other
LCT Jacqueline Star became partly submerged in Albuera, Leyte, during Tropical Storm Dante. No casualties were reported.
- 2021
MV Oroquieta Stars capsizes during Typhoon Rai[1]
Other
MV Oroquieta Stars capsized near Liloan, Cebu, during Typhoon Rai.
- 2015
MV Wonderful Stars fire at Ormoc port[1]
Other
MV Wonderful Stars caught fire while at Ormoc City port. No casualties were reported in the supplied reference.
- 2009
MV Wonderful Stars collides with MV Subic Bay 1[1]
Other
MV Wonderful Stars was involved in a collision with Carlos A. Gothong Lines' MV Subic Bay 1. Reported damage estimates were between PHP 600,000 and PHP 700,000.
- 2008
MV Heaven Star suffers mechanical problem off Leyte[1]
Other
MV Heaven Star reportedly developed a mechanical problem after seawater entered its bunker fuel while sailing from Ormoc toward Cebu. MV Wonderful Stars went to the vessel's location to assist with towing.
- 2008
MV Wonderful Star collides with MCC Sulo[1]
Other
MV Wonderful Star and the foreign-owned cargo vessel MCC Sulo collided near northern Cebu. The reported damage was minor on both vessels.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/roble-shipping · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled