New sea route to Mindoro via Caticlan opened

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The sea craft servicing Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro to Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan launched its operations last April 1.  

 

The four times daily trips of FastCat M3 and M5, operated by Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation, will reduce the sea travel to Mindoro by one hour. The regular route for ferries is via Caticlan-Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, which is around four hours.

Bulalacao is located in the southeast corner of Oriental Mindoro and a popular stop for cruising yachts. 

Passenger fare rates for the three-hour sea travel for Bulalacao-Caticlan route and vice versa will cost P500 for fully air-conditioned business class, which could accommodate 63 passengers.

Premium economy class of FastCat, also fully air conditioned that could accommodate up to 107 passengers, has a regular fare of P440 while the fare for non air-conditioned sundeck/economy is P375 for 105 passengers.

FastCat also charged discounted rates of P400 (business class), P352 for premium economy and P300 for economy for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. 

Children 7 years and below have to pay P250 for business, P220 for premium economy and P187.50 for economy.

The car deck of FastCat has a capacity of 300 lane meters that could hold 30-34 cars and 6-7 trucks and buses and other land vehicles. Freight rates vary depending on classification and vehicle length.

FastCat also has elevator for people with disabilities, a cafeteria, roll on roll off ramp and safety life crafts for emergencies. FastCat is a safe and state-of-the art roll-on roll-off vessel and runs at an average speed of 16.5 knots, which is faster than most RORO vessels in the country.

The twin-hull FastCat was designed by Sea Transport Solutions of Australia, the leading designer of mid-speed catamaran vessels in the world. It is the country’s first and only pro-environment ferry engine, having passed the TIER 2 emission standards in sulphur and carbon dioxide.