6 cargo ships, 1 ferry suspended

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority has suspended all five cargo vessels of the Cebu-based Polsa Shipping Lines Incorporated and one of the Ocean Jet ferries until they pass a safety audit.

MARINA suspended Polsa Shipping Line’s fleet after its MV Bulk Carrier I collided with a foreign vessel last August 9, off Tampuan Point in Maasim, Sarangani Province.

The vessels that were suspended are MV Bulk Carrier II, MV Bulk Carrier III, MV Bulk Carrier V, MV Bulk Carrier VIII and MV Hummer H2.

In his order dated August 12, Marina Administrator Emerson Lorenzo said the six vessels of Polsa Shipping Lines have to pass an audit under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and a re-inspection by Marina office in Central Visayas before they can be allowed to operate again.

Lorenzo also directed the management and the officers and crew of the ill-fated MV Bulk Carrier I to explain and to show cause within 72-hours from receipt of the order why their Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended or revoked.

Marina has granted a 10-year CPC to Polsa Shipping Lines on June 2, 2009 until June 3, 2019.  

Same order was given to the officers and crew of the foreign-registered MV HS Puccini, through the American President Lines, its authorized agent in the Philippines.

Marina likewise suspended the Seafarer’s Identification Book and Qualification Document Certificate of the officers and crew of the sunken MV Bulk Carrier I. The suspension will remain until further orders.

MV Bulk Carrier I collided with the container vessel MV HS Puccini resulting to the deaths of two of the former’s crew.

Marina will start hearing the incident at 10:00 a.m. today at the Marina office in Cebu.

Meanwhile, Marina VII director Nannette Villamor-Dinopol ordered on August 13 the suspension of MV Ocean Jet 5 of the Ocean Fast Ferries Corporation.

The suspension came after the vessel experienced battery damage and generator problem few minutes before it was supposed to depart from Cebu for Tagbilaran City in Bohol carrying 285 passengers few days ago.

The suspension of vessel’s Passenger Ship Safety Certificate shall remain effective and may be lifted only after satisfactory result of the re-inspection and additional ship audit. –(FREEMAN)