Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation

Last updated
Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (FastCat)
FastCat
Industry Shipping
Founded2003;21 years ago (2003)
Headquarters Muntinlupa, Philippines
Area served
Philippines
Key people
Dennise C. Trajano (Chairman)
Christopher “Chet” S. Pastrana (President and CEO)
Mary Ann I. Pastrana (EVP and Treasurer)
Services Passenger and cargo ferry transport
Website fastcat.ph

Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC) is a ferry company based in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines. It serves passenger and cargo routes serving select seaports in the Philippines with its fleet of catamaran Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ferries. It also operates ports and terminals.

Contents

History

Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation's (APFC) history traces back in the early 1990s, when Christopher S. Pastrana finds the sailing condition when he travels by sea to his father's hometown, in Matnog, Sorsogon as pitiable. He operates Capp Group of Companies a firm that transport bulk cargo primarily for the fertilizer industry. His company later acquires the whole Ro-Ro division of bus firm, Philtranco. [1]

APFC was incorporated in 2002 and initially operated as Maharlika for 11 years until 2013 when it underwent a rebrand. [2]

In 2004, the Philippine government invited the firm to be part of the Road-RoRo Terminal System-Strong Republic Nautical Highway project of the government. The fleet of APFC was upgraded in 2010, when it partnered with Australia-based Sea Transport Solutions to acquire 10 Ro-Ro vessels. With the acquisition of the vessels, APFC became the first ferry company in the Philippines to operate catamaran-type Ro-Ro vessels. [3] The firm also became involved in the modernization of Philippine ports in the east and west sea corridor. [1]

In 2015, it was reported that APFC's operations in the country were 65 percent for cargo transport and 35 percent for passenger transport. [1]

FastCat

FastCat
FastCat M5.jpg
FastCat M5 at the Batangas International Port
OwnerArchipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation
CountryPhilippines
Introduced2013
MarketsPhilippines
Tagline"FerrySafe. FerryFast. FerryConvenient."

APFC operates a fleet of catamaran-type Ro-Ro vessels named FastCat. These vessels were designed by Australia-based Sea Transport Solutions and built by China-based Boni Fair Development. The Japan International Cooperation Agency reportedly extended a ₱2.3 Billion sub loan support to APFC for the first ten FastCat vessels. [4] [5]

The ships were specifically designed for climate conditions of the Philippine seas. It ships also has a double hull with 10 watertight compartments, no ballast tanks for stable buoyancy, and a fire security system and a navigation and control systems. The top speed of the vessel is 16.5 knots. FastCat vessels are designed to carry 275-320 passengers with accommodations for the senior citizens and the disabled as well as 30-40 passenger cars and 6-7 trucks or buses. [5] [6]

Ro-Ro routes

As of January 2024, APFC operates seven routes. [6] It plans to open routes throughout the country in the Eastern, Central, and Western maritime corridors. The firm plans to establish presence in the Central Visayas market, as well as to connect Palawan to Luzon by connecting the province to Mindoro which in turn will be connected in Batangas. [1] APFC plans to open routes to countries in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. [2]

FastCat M19 Fastcat M19.jpg
FastCat M19
Present Routes
Reference unless noted otherwise: [7]
Former Routes
Reference unless noted otherwise: [1] [8]

Fleets

As of January 2024 APFC operates a total fleet of 18 vessels:

  • FastCat M1
  • FastCat M2
  • FastCat M3
  • FastCat M5
  • FastCat M6
  • FastCat M7
  • FastCat M8
  • FastCat M9
  • FastCat M10
  • FastCat M11
  • FastCat M12
  • FastCat M14
  • FastCat M15
  • FastCat M16
  • FastCat M17
  • FastCat M18
  • FastCat M19
  • FastCat M20

Incidents

FastCat M11 in Cebu City Pier 3 FastCat M11.jpg
FastCat M11 in Cebu City Pier 3

Related Research Articles

A ferry is a boat that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus.

SuperFerry was one of the largest ferry companies in the Philippines before it was purchased by Negros Navigation, which simultaneously was purchased by the Chinese government through its private equity fund the China-Asean Investment Cooperation Fund, and became 2GO Travel, part of the 2GO Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros Navigation</span> Shipping company in the Philippines

Negros Navigation Co., Inc. (NENACO) was one of the oldest domestic shipping companies in the Philippines. It was also one of the largest companies in the passenger transport business in the Philippines. Its main hub was the renowned Pier 2 in Manila North Harbor. NENACO later merged with SuperCat, SuperFerry and Cebu Ferries to form 2GO Travel, the second largest Philippine shipping merger next to the William Lines-Gothong Lines-Aboitiz Shipping merger (WG&A) in 1996. At the same time, the China-Asean Investment Cooperation Fund, a private equity fund wholly owned by the government of the People's Republic of China through an equity infusion, gained a controlling interest in Negros Navigation and subsequently changed the company into the 2GO Group with 2GO Travel, its shipping-company subsidiary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro Lines</span> Batangas based shipping company

Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. (MSLI) is a Philippine domestic shipping line based at Batangas City, Philippines. The office is located at Montenegro Corporate office, along Bolbok Diversion Road, Bolbok Batangas City. It operates passenger, cargo and RORO vessels to various destinations in the Philippines under the brands Montenegro Lines and Marina Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caledonian MacBrayne fleet</span> List of ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne in Scotland

The Caledonian MacBrayne fleet is the largest fleet of car and passenger ferries in the United Kingdom, with 34 ferries in operation, 2 on charter and another 6 on order. The company provides lifeline services to 23 islands off the west coast of Scotland, as well as operating routes in the Firth of Clyde.

The SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation, commonly known as SuperCat, is a shipping company that operates a fleet of high-speed catamarans (HSC) in the Philippines.

Roble Shipping Inc. is a Cebu-based shipping line located in Cebu City, Philippines. The company was founded by Jose Roble, a native of Danao, Cebu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans-Asia Shipping Lines</span> Shipping company in the Philippines

Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Incorporated (TASLI) is a shipping company based in Cebu City, Philippines. It was incorporated on March 25, 1974, under the name of Solar Shipping Lines, Inc. The Chairman of the company is Dennis A. Uy. Trans-Asia Shipping Lines is now managed by the Chelsea Logistics, Corp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lite Shipping Corporation</span>

Lite Shipping Corporation, is a Cebu City-based shipping line, that operates the Lite Ferries, a brand consisting of a fleet of more than 20 ships. The corporation has its origins from Bohol, and is the flagship company of Lite Holdings, Inc. At present, the corporation also owns and manages Danilo Lines, Inc. and Sunline Shipping Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2GO Travel</span> Shipping company in the Philippines

2GO Travel or 2GO Sea Solutions, also known simply as 2GO, is a passenger ferry company based in Manila, Philippines, the shipping and passenger ferry arm of 2GO Group, and the only remaining Manila-based major interisland passenger ferry company, with its main hub located in Pier 4 at the Manila North Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2GO Group</span> Filipino ferry company

2GO Group Inc., also known simply as 2GO is a Philippines-based transportation and logistics company operating a fleet of inter-island passenger ferries and cargo ships. The top two principal shareholders of the 2GO Group are SM Investments Corp, and Trident Investments.

MV <i>St. Thomas Aquinas</i> Philippine ferry which sank in 2013

MV St. Thomas Aquinas was a Philippine-registered passenger ferry operated by 2GO Travel. On 16 August 2013, the vessel collided with a cargo ship named MV Sulpicio Express Siete of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation and sank. As of 3 September 2013, there were 108 dead and 29 missing with 733 rescued as a result of the accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batangas International Port</span> Port in Philippines

The Batangas International Port or locally known as the Batangas Pier is a seaport in Barangay Santa Clara, Batangas City primarily serving the Calabarzon region of the Philippines. The seaport covers an area of about 150 hectares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starlite Ferries</span> Shipping company in the Philippines

Starlite Ferries is a passenger ferry company based in Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines owned and operated by Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., a Manila-based logistics company. It mainly serves the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Cebu and Surigao del Norte and is one of the leading ferry companies operating in the Mimaropa and Western Visayas regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleson Shipping Lines</span>

Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc. is a shipping company based in Zamboanga, Philippines. Their services include routes to Sandakan, Malaysia and over Dapitan to Dumaguete. They also ship cargo from Zamboanga City to Manila with twelve of their container carriers.

MV <i>Danica Joy</i> Ship built in 1982

MV Danica Joy was a passenger ferry owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Lines. She served the BIMP-EAGA Route of Zamboanga City - Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Dipolog</span> Port in the Philippines

The Port of Dipolog, originally and formerly known as the Galas Feeder Port, is a seaport in Dipolog, Philippines. It is owned and managed by the City Government of Dipolog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josefa Slipways</span> Shipbuilding company in the Philippines

Josefa Slipways, Inc. is a medium-category shipbuilding company based in Navotas, Philippines. It was established in 2005 to provide shipbuilding and ship repair services to shipping companies and maritime government agencies in the Philippines. The company has two slipways in Navotas for docking and launching vessels as well as another facility in Sual, Pangasinan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian Marine Transport Corporation</span>

Asian Marine Transport Corporation (AMTC) is a Filipino passenger and freight shipping company established in 1999 in Cebu City, Philippines. It owns and operates the Super Shuttle RORO, Super Shuttle Ferry and Shuttle Fast Ferry brand of RORO and ROPAX ferries.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mendoza, Ivy. "Out to sea– safely, fastly, conveniently". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 Abadilla, Emmie (8 April 2016). "FastCat ro-ro operator eyeing ASEAN operations by 2020". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. "Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC)". Asia Business Channel. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  4. Domingo, Ronnel (17 April 2014). "Local firm gets P2.3-B Jica loan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 "JICA boosts PH domestic shipping safety and modernization with P2.3B RORO vessels". Japan International Cooperation Agency. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  6. 1 2 Magturo, Daphne (7 April 2016). "FastCat planning to expand in SE Asia". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  7. "Routes". FastCat. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  8. Gapas, Jose R. (2018-03-22). "FastCat to Camiguin, Bohol begins operations". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  9. Udtohan, Leo (19 October 2018). "Shipping firm starts own probe on crash with cargo vessel off Talisay City". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 4 January 2021.