Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation’s (APFC) FastCat, operator of the Philippines’ largest fleet of mid-speed and internationally classed roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger ferries, has added two brand-new vessels to its fleet.
FastCat 12 and FastCat 14 are improved versions of the existing fleet. The latest vessels feature business class and premium economy sections that are fully air-conditioned, matched with an entertainment system, reclining seats, food trays, persons with disability- and senior citizen-friendly facilities, and manned by professionally trained crew and staff.
APFC president Christopher Pastrana, in a phone interview with PortCalls, said FastCat 12 and 14 are both currently deployed on the Batangas-Calapan, Mindoro route, but the target is to have one ship serve the Dapitan-Dipolog route owing to clamor from the riding public. Pastrana said APFC is still waiting for the approval of the route designation by the Maritime Industry Authority.
Aside from the two new vessels, Pastrana said APFC will bring in 12 to 14 more vessels next year, and two more in 2020 to achieve a 30-vessel fleet by 2020.
He noted that all FastCat vessels are International Association of Classification Societies-classed and brand-new, in support of the government’s thrust to modernize the country’s domestic fleet. The next batch of FastCat vessels, which will have even better features than the two new ones this year, will be deployed on more routes in Visayas and Mindanao, Pastrana noted.
AFPC is also in partnership with JAM liner and Philtranco bus line for passenger and cargo services, and QuickReliable Service for the last-mile delivery of packages carried in the bellies of buses that board FastCat vessels.
