MARINA: Lifting SLI suspension premature

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority said it is still premature to allow Sulpicio Lines Incorporated to resume its full operation because of some safety requirements that the shipping firm has yet to comply.

MARINA regional director Glen Cabanez, however, said Sulpicio is working very hard to comply with those requirements

“Sa ngayon malapit na ma-comply ang mga natitirang requirements na pinapa-comply sa kanila ng Marina board,” Cabanez told dyLA.

To his knowledge, Cabanez said the SLI has yet to comply with the required new ship management system and the retraining of its crew.

He said SLI has entered into an agreement with Magsaysay Shipping Corporation to undertake the re-training and the review of the ship management system.

The firm also tapped a Japanese consultant who used to be with MARINA and the Japan International Cooperation Agency to help it in retraining of crew.

MARINA required SLI to come up with a new ship management system; retraining of the crew; full-payment of the insurance coverage of the passengers of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars; and removal of the ship wreck.

But despite the non compliance with the requirements, the SLI management wanted to fully operate.

SLI owners were reported to have sought the help of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal to convince President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to lift the suspension of their certificate of public conveyance and allow them to transport passengers.

Vidal requested the President to lift Sulpicio’s suspension during her visit in Cebu last week but Arroyo did not grant the request until all the safety requirements are complied with.

Sources told The Freeman that SLI, instead of a new management system, only submitted a consultancy agreement with Magsaysay Shipping to review the old SLI SMS.

The agreement was reportedly valid for only 30 days which, maritime experts viewed, is a very short period to complete the review of the ship management system.

Cabanez, however, said he could not confirm it because it is the MARINA board that will decide. He said the board will also approve the ship management system to ensure the safety of the passengers once the ban to transport passengers is lifted.

Cabanez said the MARINA board is scheduled to meet within the week to tackle the issue. He is not, however, sure whether or not the lifting of the ban will be among the issues to be decided.

Cabanez confirm the cardinal’s concern about the lack of sea transport to ferry passengers, especially now that it is already summer and during the Holy Week.

“I can confirm that there is shortage--- talagang mayroong na create na kakulangan in terms of supply especially this coming dry season or summer,” Cabanez said.

Some ship operators who refused to be named however said it is not true that the cargo demand in Cebu had been clogged up because of the absence of SLI.

In fact, they claimed that there is a price war among the other shipping lines because the demand has gone down. – Fred P. Languido/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)