A BRAND new Catamaran-type vessel, which was bound for Cebu from Tubigon in Bohol, ran aground at 5 p.m. last Friday due to the low tide.
The vessel, Fastcat M11 of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp., managed to get unstuck using its own power during the high tide and headed back to Tubigon at 10 p.m. of the same day. It has four engines.
Commander Dionilett Ampil, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station, said that they received a call that Fastcat M11 ran aground while on its way to Cebu City.
Ampil said that all the passengers were safe and were rescued by the PCG-Bohol.
Archipelago operations officer Oliver Polangco said that the vessel had 45 passengers, including one infant, 26 crew and seven rolling cargoes on board.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) 7 Legal Officer Jose Cabatingan said it is the obligation of the shipping company to file a marine protest every after accident.
“We will conduct an investigation once we will receive the marine protest,” said Cabatingan.
For Lucio Lim Jr., president of the Philippine RoRo Operation Association, the accident involving Fastcat M11 was an example that a new vessel is not a guarantee to passengers’ safety.
Lim, along with the Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators (VAFCSO) and the United Trampers Association of the Philippines, is protesting the exclusive routes given to Archipelago.
The three shipping associations are also protesting the plan of the Department of Transportation to phase out vessels, aged 35 years old and above.
Earlier, Alex Cohon of VAFCSO said that old ships are as good as brand new because they are well-maintained.
Lim said there are vessels manufactured in Europe, which are more than 35 years old but did not meet any sea incident.
However, Polangco said that it was the lowest tide at the time of the accident and the ship captain was evading something within the route.
Polangco said that he will coordinate with their safety and training department, which is in-charge of filing the marine protest. He said that the Archipelago Philippines has 10 new vessels connecting the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao area for fast transport of people and cargoes.
He said that 20 more new vessels are expected to operate nationwide until the year 2020.