Wednesday, July 09, 2008 ‘Set time frame for inspection’
SHIPPING companies are asking the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to specify a clear and reasonable time frame for vessel audit and inspection so as not to adversely affect public service.
In a letter to Transportation Undersecretary Ma. Elena Bautista, Daniel L. Lacson Jr., president and chairman of the board of the Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association (PISA) and the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA), expressed the groups’ position on the grounding of all Sulpicio Lines vessels shortly after the sinking of mv Princess of the Stars.
Bautista is the chairperson of Task Force Princess of the Stars.
Lacson said that while they support Marina’s policy on the inspection of vessels, the agency must set a specific time frame for the task.
Until now, Sulpicio passenger vessels are not allowed to sail because the inspection and audit by the team from Marina’s Manila office is not yet completed.
Losses
Nestor Ponteires, Sulpi-cio Lines Inc. port captain, said that their company loses millions of pesos every day because of the suspension on their operation.
The suspension of Sulpicio’s Certificate of Public Convenience or franchise was issued by Marina Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. a few days after the sinking of Princess of the Stars near Sibuyan Island, Romblon last month.
Robert Go, past president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), raised his fears that if demand from freight services will increase, the rates will also go up.
Go said the fact that Sulpicio accounts for 30 percent to 40 percent of the sea transport in the country is something Marina should consider.
Deficiencies
Suazo, however, said he cannot immediately lift the grounding of Sulpicio vessels because the inspection team found several deficiencies on the vessels. These deficiencies, he said, were not reported by the Cebu inspection team.
“We have to review how Sulpicio operates and why some of their vessels sank,” Suazo said.
Suazo said he received reports that Marina 7 officials and inspectors are in the payroll of shipping companies. This was why, the report said, that they just declare vessels as seaworthy even if there are defects.
Suazo said sanctions will be imposed at the Marina 7 office if his investigators can find strong evidence proving Marina 7 personnel are indeed in the payroll of shipping lines.
“Their (Marina 7 personnel) reports differ from the report of the team we created after the sinking of Princess of the Stars,” Suazo said. (EOB)
