82 INTERVIEW Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation’s Mary Ann Pastrana reflects on fleet modernisation, workforce investment and her role on the Interferry board ahead of its 50th anniversary conference. Lindsay James reports Charting a smarter, cleaner future For an operator serving one of the world’s largest archipelagic nations, standing still has never been an option. Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC), under its flagship brand FastCat, continues to pursue its long-stated ambition of operating 30 vessels by 2033-2035 – but chairperson Mary Ann Pastrana is clear that the goal is about more than expanding fleet size. “Rather than simply adding more vessels, our focus is on building the next generation of ferries that are smarter, cleaner and more efficient,” she says. The company is currently designing its future newbuilds, incorporating hybrid technology and sustainability features suited to Philippine domestic operations. To get there, FastCat is working with an international roster of partners, including Green Bay Marine of Singapore, Nakashima Propellers of Japan, Japanese engine manufacturers and a global leader in electrification and energy efficiency. “Our objective is to build vessels that are future-ready while continuing to provide safe, reliable and affordable transport for our passengers, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the International Association of Classification Societies,” says Pastrana. That expansion, Pastrana argues, is about far more than commercial growth. With more than 7,600 islands to connect, fleet modernisation feeds directly into the Philippine Maritime Industry Development Plan and the country’s wider economic development. “Every investment is guided by our values: pro-God, pro-country and propeople first, alongside our commitment to be ferry safe, ferry fast and ferry convenient,” she explains. Beyond new vessels, the company is investing in digitalisation – improved ticketing systems, data-driven operations and private port facilities designed to make island-to-island journeys faster and more seamless. None of these projects will work, Pastrana says, without the right people behind them. FastCat has expanded its learning management system to include artificial intelligence literacy across the organisation, anticipating that the technology will become a productivity tool not just in the office, but eventually in maritime operations too. On the water, APFC continues to develop cadet and crew skills through advanced simulator-based training using Kongsberg technology, giving seafarers a safe environment in which to build technical competence before stepping onboard. Internally, the company runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System, a structure Pastrana credits with the organisational clarity and accountability needed to keep “ The future of ferry safety depends not only on better vessels and regulations but on investing in people”
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