Cebu-Mactan fastcraft dry-run moved to March 7

Kasamahan Wharf and its environs are currently being asphalted and cleared of obstructions. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)

THE travel time of a fastcraft plying between Cebu and  Mactan islands will be among the issues that will be resolved when the dry run for fastcraft services  is held on Monday.

The dry run, which was set for today, has been moved to Monday, at 10:30 a.m., because the floating platform at the wharf popularly known as Anton’s Wharf beside the Cebu Yacht Club is not yet ready.

“Wala pa man gu’y kadunggoan, wa pa ma-ready ang floating platform sa side sa Anton’s (There’s nowhere to dock. The floating platform beside Anton’s is not yet ready),” said Ocean operations manager Genero Lastimado.

Ocean Fast Ferries Corp. will field OceanJet 11, a 79-ton fastcraft that can carry 180 passengers, for the dry run from Pier 1 to Anton’s Wharf in Lapu-Lapu City.

OceanJet 11 currently services the Cebu City-Camotes Islands route.  Lastimado said they plan to pass by Lapu-Lapu City on their way to and from Camotes.

The service as well as the proposed boat and barge trips  are being planned as alternative modes of transport between Cebu and Mactan during the implementation of major repair works on the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Lastimado said they have asked to be allowed to sail at a speed of 12 to 15 knots, instead of the maximum harbor speed of 8 knots, to shorten the trip.

“Kon mahimo gani 15 knots, mas maayo aron dali ra abton (If 15 knots is possible, it would be better),“ Lastimado said.

At a speed of 8 knots, the trip will take almost an hour, which may discourage passengers, he said. An OceanJet vessel made the trip at 12 knots yesterday and reached Mactan in 21 minutes.

Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat said the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is also pushing for a 10-knot speed limit  for OceanJet.

But Bibat said speeds more than 8 knots might cause damage to vessels docked in Piers 3 and 4.

“Kinahanglan gyod na og public consultation kon atong tas-an (We need to hold a public consultation before we can increase the speed),” Bibat said.

The proposed fare for the Cebu City-Lapu-Lapu route is P80, but this still needs approval from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Aside from OceanJet officials and crew, officials of CPA, Cebu Coast Guard and Marina, as well as members of the media, will  join the dry run on Monday.

Yusop J. Uckung, CPA deputy general manager, said they will evaluate the viability of the route shortly after the dry run.

Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City engineering office is paving with asphalt the Kasamahan Wharf near General Milling Corp.  in preparation for boat trips to and from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City.

The wharf and its access road are expected to be ready by the end of this month, or before the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge would be partly closed for major repairs.

The Naval Base Rafael Ramos of the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) cannot be tapped as docking area for barges until security issues are ironed out, Uckung of

CPA said.