Inter-Island Transportation

Sea vessels that have become more common in Philippine waters are fast crafts. These speedy boats are equipped with night-vision technology and modern navigational systems, making these boats safe to ride. Their highly- trained crew and attendants make for a more comfortable travel. Revolutionizing Philippine inter-island sea travel, fast crafts have become one of the most important innovations in the inter-island travel industry.

Sea vessels at Sinulog 2009 - Fluvial Parade

Wooden pump boats or bancas are the typical means of reaching nearby islands.  These boats are propelled by outboard motors. They are relatively safe to ride but you need to consider weather conditions before heading out to sea. You also have to be aware that during peak seasons, boatmen at times get greedy, charging passengers much higher rates than usual. During these times, overloading is a possible scenario that is not only uncomfortable but can get downright scary. If you have deep pockets, you can hire a pump boat or banca to see the islands.

Ferry Boats
Ferries are the usual means of getting from one island to another where trips can be as short as 45 minutes to as long as four hours, or much longer.  These vessels are a very significant means of getting around the Philippine islands.  Philippine ferries have really allowed people to discover the many beautiful and exotic islands of the Philippines, helping local business and communities bringing in more tourists and trade.

Ferry boat terminal

Ferry boats ply the waters practically of all Philippines islands. Nevertheless, lack of sea-safety consciousness, especially overloading, has been a constant problem that in many cases has led to tragedies at sea.  But there are many reasons people rely on ferries.  Regular ferry boats trips can accommodate a hundred passengers in one trip. Small distances of up to a dozen nautical miles are typically served by small ferry boats. Ferry boats are the most popular choice for travel in short inter-island routes, usually carrying 20 to 60 passengers. While medium-sized steel-hull vessels operate between mid-range islands.  These ferry boats make Philippine seas busy transporting passengers and goods from island to island.

Fast Crafts
Fast crafts or hover crafts, are smaller but faster versions of ferry boats. They are sleek, lighter, and smaller, with modern features not found in most ferry boats. It is also safer to travel in fast crafts as they are equipped with modern systems like night-vision equipment and advanced radar systems. Traveling on fast crafts is as comfortable as traveling on land in a sports utility vehicle.  Fast crafts have redefined Philippine inter-island travel. With top speeds of 65 kilometers per hour, these hydrofoils and catamarans cut time travel by 50 percent. Fast crafts also have air- conditioning and most of these vessels provide onboard food and drinks either in snack bars or roll wheel trays pushed around by stewards or stewardesses. WG & A “Supercats” have practically taken over the inter-island routes of the fast- craft industry in the Philippines.

Supercat

Ro-Ro Barges
Traveling from island to island is usually taken on steel-hull ferries which are also called barges. There are many relatively large vessels in the Philippines that transport a hundred passengers or more and vehicles in inter-island trips.  In many cases, people who want to bring their vehicles with them on these trips find it  more convenient to have their vehicles with them and simply drive off the ferries once they get to port. These are called ro-ro or roll-on roll-off barges that are ideal for traveling short distance from island to island in four hours or less. Schedules for these trips are available in community and national newspapers.

Ro-Ro Ferry from Samal to Davao City