SuperCat unveils new vessel

CEBU, Philippines - Boosted by positive public support as proven by its increasing sales despite the competition in the industry, SuperCat Fast Ferries Seacrafts Inc. recently introduced another vessel that would service passengers from Cebu to Bohol and Vice Versa.

The SuperCat 38 is the newest addition to the fast ferry vessels of the company, which started operations last November 28,2009 after arriving from Sydney Australia. Next year, SuperCat 36, the twin of SuperCat 38 would also be arriving.

Cheryl Sarsalejo, the passage services manager of the company said that the ship was added not only due to the increasing customers they are currently servicing but also to continue serving their passengers with the best quality at all times.

Sarsalejo said that ever since they started operations more than a decade ago, they have been blessed with regular patrons who have given them good feedback despite the emerging presence of other companies offering fast ferry services.

She said that despite this, they are not threatened by the competition considering that the company has already built a name in the industry and has established a good reputation for safety and high standard services. This included bagging awards from different agencies like the Bureau of Quarantine’s cleanest ship for 2009 where Super Cat 32 won first for Fast craft category and third place went to Super Cat 30.

The new vessel, which has the first ever state-of-the-art rubber jumper facility in fast ferry vessels gives the ship the capability to travel in a much smoother way explained by Capt. Jose Correos, the Master Mariner of SuperCat 38. This is in line with the company’s goal to further give comfort and the best service to their passengers. SuperCat is owned by the Aboitiz Transport System –the integrated transport and logistics service arm of Aboitiz & Company.

Sarsalejo also said that they are optimistic of the continuous increase of support in the coming year, adding to the increase they had for this year which had an eight percent increase over last year’s number. A bulk of this number is for their Cebu-Ormoc route, she said. Sarsalejo said that aside from Ormoc and Bohol, they also have a market for Batangas and Bacolod and have been receiving inquiries from locals and foreigners who request on routes for other provinces.

Aside from the vessels and the high standards that they maintain in their services, Sarsalejo said that they are happy with the successful partnership they have with Travel Village, the pioneering travel company in Bohol that offers day tour packages, dubbed as Skip Trips.

Sarsalejo said that the skip trips have hugely contributed in gathering more tourists especially with the European and Korean market.

Travel Village owner Lourdes Sultan said that they are presently offering one package which is a day tour package that includes a tour to Baclayon church and museum, a lunch Loboc river Cruise and trips to the chocolate hills, butterfly farm, and other significant places before returning to Cebu at the end of the day.

Sultan said that they are looking forward to offering eight more new packages for the skip trip including the Loboc Night Cruise which is one of the new offered services in Bohol at present.

Sarsalejo of SuperCat said that together with Travel Village, they are hopeful for the coming year and that they are looking forward for more new services to be offered.— AJ de la Torre