Pasig ferry ride

Just today, I once more took a ride in the Pasig Ferry operated by the Nautical Transport Services Incorporated based in Manila, Philippines.

I noticed that the ferry took longer than usual to ply its route. It appears to me that it has been moving at a slower pace that what I have previously experience. What I noticed even more is the gas guzzling made when the ferry docks in and departs a station. At one station, it has to make a 180 degree turn to dock and do a reverse 180 to leave and move on to the next station. In another station, the ferry has to make a 90 degree turn to dock and also make a reverse 90 to leave.

I have heard that the ferry consumes about two thousand five hundred pesos worth of diesel fuel for a complete one way trip. And now I understand why.

Every time the ferry sets its engines to full reverse or use it to maneuver, I hear it rev up and I deduced that this eats up a lot of its diesel supply.

I have thought of the following cost effective means of running that service. I am not sure if it will work as I expect. But no pain, no gain so here it goes:

1. Change the hull from catamaran to a surface effect hull like the m-hull featured by the M Shipping Company located in San Diego, California. This will allow the ferry to increase speed at a shorter period of time and drop speed just as fast. Surface effect hulls "raise" the ship from the water when it increases speed due to its hydrodynamic feature. When the ship cuts power to its propellers, the loss of forward thrust degrades the "lifting" capacity of the hull that lowers it in water. The design of the hull uses the density of water as its brakes. So, let's say a ship can increase speed to 10 knots in 3 seconds, it can stop to 0 in just about the same time with this type of hull.

2. Locate stations away from obstructions like bridges and other docks. This will not require the ferries to maneuver too much. All it has to do is slow down, move to the side, and dock. No more turnings. No more backings. No more twists.

This will make the service more fuel efficient and cover its route much faster.

Pasig Ferry Ride 2

Just this afternoon, we went into another Pasig Ferry trip. We got right on time arriving at the ferry station in Bambang, Pasig City for the 12:30pm pick-up.

Ferry service from Bambang to Escolta starts from 5.30am. Last trip from Bambang to Escolta is at 8.40pm

Ferry service from Escolta to Bambang starts at 6.05am and the last trip leaves at 8.40pm for Bambang.


At present, the Bambang station is a mere pontoon set-up along side the river waiting for the more modern and air conditioned station to be finished.


The Kalawaan station looks pretty much like the pontoon Bambang Station. No on-going construction, however, indicates the construction of a more modern stations.


Guadalupe station, the next stop to Escolta, is the first station I have ever noticed. I have seen the construction in 2006 and passed by it last February 2007 after arriving from Tacloban City, Leyte.


Hulo station is next. Hulo is located somewhere in Mandaluyong City a few minutes from the Guadalupe station.


Lambingan station is also located in Mandaluyong City. Lambingan, if translated to English means romancing. :-)


Sta. Ana station located in the City of Manila is probably near the famous Sta. Ana race track (Sorry, I was not able to confirm). As you can see, the "T" in Sta. does not look too good when I took the picture before the recent storm. The last time we passed by, the "T" is nowhere to be seen. hehehe

The next station is the station behind the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Good for the students!

After this, the ferry passes under the Nagtahan bridge on to a scenic view of the Malacanan Palace, the seat of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Alas, all passengers are prohibited from taking photographs while passing through Malacanan. A member of the Presidential Security Group is present to ensure that. And every time the ferry passes. the crew are on the watch in case a passenger pulls out a camera.

And the final stop, Escolta station.

It was a relaxing 1 hour 10 minute ride with a Transformers movie feature on the ferry's front-mounted HDTV.

Hope you'll enjoy the ride as well. Just don't mind the shanties you pass and the garbage floating by.

Photos from Pasig Ferry Ride

Here are some photos from our Pasig Ferry ride last time.
A view of the back end of the enclosed and air-conditioned ferry. Each ferry has three rows. With three seats on either side row and four seats on the middle row.

At the front, you can see to the left and partly to the right the exit doors leading to the front side exits. Also featured is the HDTV up front for the passengers' entertainment. Not much use for those seated way back though.

The door to the bridge is also seen to the right of the HDTV.

The ferry travels from Kalawaan, Pasig City, Metro Manila to Escolta in the City of Manila. Stations along the way are Bambang in Pasig City, Guadalupe near the Guadalupe bridge in EDSA, Sta. Ana and Lambingan stations both in Mandaluyong, PUP in Sta. Mesa, Manila, and finally Escolta across the historical Philippine Postal Corporation.

Four ferries alternately arrive every 35 minutes in every station. The trip from Bambang to Escolta takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

They charge from 25 to 45 pesos during weekdays and a flat rate of 25 pesos on weekends.

Well, we are on our way now to have another ride on the ferry to visit Divisoria for some bargain shopping.

Cruise along Pasig River

Two weeks ago, me and my wife went to cruise along Pasig River on board an airconditioned catamaran. It has plastic seats, good view of the river (and its garbage) and a front mounted HDTV for entertainment.

It was a Sunday so we planned to bum around Manila. We took the ferry from the San Joaquin Station. Since it was a Sunday, they offered a flat rate of P25.00. It took more than one hour to get to Escolta, the last station. Across the river is the Philippine Post Office.

After a long stroll in Raon and the China Town, we again took the ferry back to Pasig.

Even though the trip took more than an hour, it was stress free inspite of the garbage floating around. And since it is airconditioned, we sat comfortably not being bothered by the possibility of a foul smell outside.

I would recommend to readers to take the ferry. For those interested it has stations in Kalawaan, San Joaquin, Guadalupe, Lambingan, Sta. Ana, PUP, and Escolta.

A map at the back of the ferry shows possible expansion to Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay, and Marikina almost to San Mateo.

Hope you will also enjoy the ride as we did.