Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Marina checks Sulpicio’s passenger ships
SULPICIO Lines Inc. will have to prove why its franchise should not be revoked, after the sinking of its largest vessel claimed at least 70 lives. Hundreds are still missing.
The show-cause order, issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) last June 23, will allow Sulpicio to air its side amid allegations that it failed to provide “safe, adequate, efficient, reliable and proper service at all times,” contrary to what is stated in its certificate of public convenience.
Sulpicio has until tomorrow to submit its explanation.
Within 72 hours from the issuance of the order, Sulpicio Lines must also submit documents – passenger and cargo manifests, all pertinent ship and crew documents — to show measures undertaken to assist the victims and their families, and the report on coordination with the insurance company for the compensation of the relatives of fatalities.
The Coast Guard’s (CG) Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) chaired by Admiral Ramon Liwag has started its investigation to determine who are responsible for the sinking of
the mv Princess of the Stars and the cause of the tragedy.
The BMI will summon Sulpicio owners and officers to shed light on the incident.
Marina, for its part, will conduct a hearing on the case against Sulpicio Lines today at its central office.
Yesterday, the weather bureau said the mv Princess of the Stars sailed out to sea even when typhoon signal number 2 was already hoisted in Romblon Province last Friday afternoon.
Worse, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the area and its neighboring provinces under storm signal number 3, less than two hours after it left Manila port at 8:45 p.m.
The storm signal had not been lowered then when Pagasa released the 4 a.m. weather bulletin the next day, said Oscar Tabada, Pagasa 7 chief meteorological officer.
Eventually, the Princess ran smack into the path of typhoon Frank, pounding the 23,800-gross ton vessel with its maximum sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour, he said.
Reports said the ship was considered dead in the water after its engine conked out in the rough seas off Sibuyan at noon last Saturday.
Lawyer Manuel Espina, Sulpicio Lines legal counsel, earlier said the incident was a force majeure (an act of God) because the vessel was sailing to Cebu, with the CG’s consent, away from the storm’s violent path.
But Frank’s movement was cruel and erratic that it practically covered almost all areas in the Visayas.
“Morag to siya ug turista nga gasuroy-suroy,” Tabada added.
He also said that the tragedy could have been avoided had the vessel returned to Manila or taken shelter in an island, allowing the storm to pass.
He found it better to err on the side of caution than take risks.
“But we do not have police power to bar the vessel from leaving. We only give warnings to the (maritime) agencies concerned,” said the veteran weather official.
Meanwhile, Marina Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. told Sun.Star Cebu that Sulpicio Lines’ 13 passenger vessels remain suspended to ensure their seaworthiness and crew competence.
These vessels are mv Palawan Princess, mv Cebu Princess, mv Cagayan Princess, mv Dipolog Princess, mv Tacloban Princess, mv Cotabato Princess, mv Princess of Paradise, mv Filipina Princess, mv Princess of the Caribbean, mv Princess of the Ocean, MV Princess of the Universe, mv Princess of the South, and mv Princess of the Earth.
Marina 7 Director Glenn Cabañez said the suspension order can only be lifted once the vessels pass re-inspection and are audited by competent inspectors.
Two teams composed of six inspectors from the Marina central office arrived in Cebu yesterday to inspect and audit all Sulpicio Lines passenger vessels. (EOB/GC)
