Shipping orgs call order 'Unfair' MARINA grounds Trans-Asia ships

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has ordered the grounding of all vessels of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Inc. following the mishap last Sunday.

This order has been called unfair by three organizations of the shipping industry.

MARINA, in view of the sinking of Trans-Asia’s M/V Asia Malaysia last July 31 has also ordered the management to explain and show cause in writing within 72 hours from receipt, why their Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended or revoked.

MARINA issued Trans-Asia’s CPC on July 14, 2005, valid for a period of 25 years.

The nine vessels that were ordered suspended from operating are M/V Asia Indonesia, M/V Asia Japan, M/V Asia Philippines, M/V Trans-Asia 2, M/V Trans-Asia 3, M/V Trans-Asia 5, M/V Trans-Asia I, M/V Asia China, all passenger-cargo vessels and M/V Asia Pacific, a cargo ship.

These vessels are ordered suspended until re-inspection and additional International Safety Management Audit by MARINA-Region VII in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard-Region VII.

In a press conference, Chester Cokaliong, former president and current director of the Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators said that the order of MARINA suspending the entire fleet of Trans-Asia is “not fair” as the remaining vessels have not yet undergone audit or inspection.

Cokaliong said that this is also the sentiment of the Philippine Roro Operators Association and the United Trampers Association of the Philippines, who want to seek audience with Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Cokaliong explained that on the economic side of the shipping company, this would mean total paralysis of the company’s operation and loss of jobs for its crew and other employees.  

“We do not want that this will happen to our other members,” Cokaliong said.

VAFCSCO has 30 shipping operators as members with over a 100 ships operating nationwide.

Cokaliong added that they will appeal to Roxas that “there should be no suspension of an entire fleet”.

“It’s not fair ilang gibuhat. Wala may sala ang ubang barko. Their action is very drastic,” said Cokaliong, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc.

MARINA’s Order that was signed by Administrator Emerson Lorenzo further stated that based on the report of its regional office, M/V Trans-Asia I and M/V Asia China are the lone authorized ships serving the routes of Cebu-Masbate and vice verse and Tagbilaran-Cagayan de Oro and vice-versa, respectively.

The reinspection and audit of the ships shall be prioritized with the end view of ensuring their seaworthiness so as not to disrupt shipping services of these routes.

The order further stated that the Seafarer’s Identification Record Book and Qualification Document Certificate of the officers and crew of the ship, M/V Asia Malaysia, are suspended until further ordered.

Likewise the Safety Certificates of M/V Asia Malaysia are also ordered cancelled.

MARINA further ordered the management to submit, together with its answer the documents of the ill-fated ship like the passenger and cargo manifest, the cargo stowage plan, among others.

MARINA has set a hearing on this case this Friday at 10 a.m. in the morning at their regional office.

M/V Asia Malaysia was acquired by Trans-Asia in 1997 and used to serve Cebu City to Iloilo City route.

On July 31, the vessel tilted and sank four nautical miles off the coast of Ajuy, Iloilo while enroute to Iloilo City. All its 178 passengers and crew were rescued.

Compensation

Under the law, the family of every passenger who dies when a ship sinks is entitled to receive up to P200,000 in compensation.

“But in the case of survivors, the law did not state that they could get any amount from the company,” said Julian Sy, Jr. of TASLI.

He, however, added that they would still extend financial assistance of P4,000 each to the 143 paying passengers of M/V Asia Malaysia.

Non-paying passengers like infants and children are not entitled for any monetary claims.

Although they are not obliged to pay the survivors, Sy said that the company took it upon themselves to extend financial aid to their passengers to recompense for the personal belongings they lost during the tragedy.

As to cargoes which have bills of lading, Sy said that the company would pay the exact amount of the declared value of the cargo.

Internal probe

Amid claims of the shortcomings of the officers and crew of M/VAsia Malaysia, Sy said that they would do their internal investigation very soon.

Sy said that company officers, who he did not name, would evaluate the issues surrounding their vessel sinking and if anybody should be held responsible for it.

But he said that they would still rely on the official probe to be conducted by the Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) created by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Oil slick found

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – Western Visayas found oil slick in the vicinity where M/V Asia Malaysia sunk off at Calabasas Island in Ajuy town, Iloilo.

Commodore Athelo Ybañez, district commander of PCG-Western Visayas, said that the oil slick has a length of about 200 yards and a width of about 20-30 yards. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)