MARINA clears 4 Trans-Asia vessels

CEBU, Philippines - Four of the eight passenger ships and one cargo vessel of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines may now resume operation after the Maritime Industry Authority has lifted its suspension to sail after passing the safety inspection conducted by the joint team of MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard.

MARINA administrator Emerson Lorenzo, in an order dated August 5 and 6, has already cleared MV Trans-Asia 3, MV Trans-Asia 5, MV Asia Indonesia and MV Trans-Asia II to resume operation because they passed the re-inspection and additional safety management audit.

MARINA regional director Nannette Villamor Dinopol said two more vessels, MV Trans-Asia and the cargo vessel MV Asia Pacific, are undergoing corrective measures of deficiencies noted during re-inspection last week. 

MV Asia China was just subjected for inspection yesterday while two others, MV Asia Philippines and MV Asia Japan, are still drydocked at the Philippine Trigon Shipyard in Sangat, San Fernando and Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, respectively.

Julian Sy, Trans-Asia management representative and spokesperson, said they are hoping to resume operation next week.

“We are hoping that there would be no problem on our remaining vessels and we would be allowed to sail next week. But of course, MARINA has the final say,” Sy said, adding that the suspension of the firm’s operations have incurred huge losses.

Lorenzo ordered last August 1 the suspension of Trans-Asia’s fleet of eight passenger and one cargo vessels following the sinking of the M/V Asia Malaysia in the seawaters off Calabasa Island in Ajuy, Iloilo.

The order stated, though, that they may be allowed to resume operation once they have complied and passed the additional International Safety Management (ISM) Code audit and re-inspection.

The ISM Code provides an international standard for the same management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention and adopted by MARINA under its Memorandum Circular No. 143.

Meanwhile, the hearing of the show cause order issued by MARINA against the shipping company was reset on August 15 as requested by its legal counsel. MARINA has given Trans-Asia 72-hours to explain in writing why their Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended or revoked following the mishap involving one of its vessels.

MARINA issued Trans-Asia’s CPC in July 14, 2005, which has a validity period of 25 years or until July 13, 2030. — With Jennifer P. Rendon, Correspondent/FPL - (THE FREEMAN)