Vessel grounded, passengers stranded

CEBU, Philippines - Seventy-two passengers of an inter-island vessel bound for Calbayog City in Samar were stranded in Cebu City last Friday night after the Maritime Industry Authority prevented the M/V Calbayog from sailing.

An employee of FJP Palacio Shipping, the owner of the 830 gross-ton M/V Calbayog, confirmed that their vessel was prevented by the Marina from sailing to its destination even if it was already scheduled to depart at 7 p.m. the other night.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Cebu City did not have enough information about the order of the Marina that prevented the inter-island vessel from sailing.

Marina-7 legal officer Jose Cabatingan was not available for comment yesterday regarding the order.

The Coast Guard believes that the reason is something related to the safety measures of the vessel.

The Marina is the government agency tasked to oversee the operations of vessels and other seacraft to see to it that all of them have passed the approved standard for the Safety of Life and Properties at Sea.

The shipping company personnel said their company apologized to their passengers and quickly reimbursed the fare of those who decided to take another vessel.

“Gipakapinan pa gani namo’g pang taxi,” they said.

The shipping company assigned the M/V Don Martin Sr. VI to ply the Cebu-Calbayog route and it already departed last night.

M/V Calbayog used to be the M/V Asia Singapore before it was sold by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines to Engr. Florentino Palacio, the owner of Palacio Shipping Lines and founder and former president of Visayas Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators.

Palacio Shipping Lines has served the passengers of Calbayog for over 30 years and is considered the pioneer of the regular shipping industry between Calbayog City and Cebu City.   (FREEMAN NEWS)