Passengers of colliding ships asked to testify

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority is calling on passengers of the two vessels that hit each other last Tuesday night near the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge area to give their testimonies on what happened that night.

Marina-7 regional director Glenn Cabañez said that they hope passengers will attest to what transpired as it would greatly help them with their investigation.

Cabañez said that as of now, they do not have any witnesses yet from the passengers of the two ships but they are welcoming anyone who can give a viable and clear testament.

Cabañez explained that unlike road incidents, they can not specify what happened because there are no skid marks or solid proof on what may have been the cause.

“We are calling now the passengers to come in to the open and approach us in the office and we will take in their testimonies as something very important for our investigation,” he said.

But for the meantime, Cabañez said that they are doing their investigation and getting the accounts of both sides. Last Tuesday night, M/V Wonderful Star of Roble Shipping and M/V Subic 1 of Gothong Lines sideswiped each other while traveling in the waters of the Mactan Channel.

M/V Wonderful Star was bound for Ormoc City from Pier 4 and had 519 passengers, excluding the crew members, while M/V Subic Bay 1 was from Manila on its way to Gothong wharf in Mandaue.

M/V Subic Bay continued and eventually docked in its destination however, M/V Wonderful Star ran aground and was partly damaged, causing it to tilt to its side.

As of now, the captains of the two ships are both suspended and Cabañez said that they will looking at all possibilities including over speeding. He said that all the documentations needed would be examined like the engine logbook of both ships. — AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)