DOTC grounds Island vessels

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II has grounded all vessels of Island Shipping Corporation after one of its vessels caught fire and sank last Sunday.

Roxas has ordered the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to implement the order as a safety precaution.

M/V Island Fast Craft 1 caught fire on Lauis Ledge off of the coast of Talisay City around noontime last Sunday resulting to the death of three people. 

MARINA-VII information officer Jose Cabatingan told The FREEMAN that as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, they have not yet received the order of suspension from their head office.

Roxas, in a press statement posted at their DOTC website, said the directive was meant to ensure that all vessels operated by the said shipping company are seaworthy.

Island Shipping has eight vessels, including one fast craft and five RoRo vessels serving the Hagnaya-Sta. Fe and Cebu-Tubigon routes.

Roxas has also instructed the Philippine Coast Guard to convene the Special Board of Marine Inquiry and to subject the owners and operators of the shipping firm to a thorough investigation to determine whether the latter or its crew was at fault.

“At this point, public safety is our primordial concern. I will not allow shipping companies to take chances with the lives of the passengers. DOTC will ensure that whenever a passenger steps on a ship, he can be certain that ship will have passed all the stringent requirements for safety,” the statement read.

Roxas also instructed the MARINA and PCG to ensure that the owners provide the survivors and the family of the casualties the assistance they need.

Roxas also tasked the PCG to continue monitoring the situation for other damage and possible oil spill.

“Our job is to protect the safety of the public not to balance contending interests. The shipping companies have officers, lawyers, accountants and others; they can take care of themselves.  Our job is to protect the interest of the public whom we serve,” Roxas stated.

In a separate statement, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the government recognized that more lives could have been lost were it not for the search and rescue team’s valiant efforts, the invaluable assistance extended by passing passenger vessels, and the heroism of the fisherfolk, who were among those first at the scene.

Where’s the captain?

Survivors of last Sunday’s sea mishap have been looking for the ship captain since the incident happened as they never saw him.

Three people died in the mishap including the vessel’s Chief Mate, Abelardo Torrevillas, who reportedly gave his life vest to a passenger and was last to jump off the boat. He was 57 years old.

The vessel was on its way to Cebu City from Tubigon, Bohol when its engine allegedly caught fire. 

Some survivors claimed that they never saw Lucresio Cañedo, the captain of the vessel. They said that they only saw Torrevillas.

The Philippine Coast Guard has, however, dispelled rumors about the captain’s absence saying that Cañedo was on board the vessel during the incident and has been brought to Cebu for the inquiry into the mishap.

This was bared by Fidel Hibaya of the PCG, who is based in Tubigon.

The two other fatalities were identified as Necitas Cabrera, 73, of Davao City and Mathea Infiesto, 62, of Clarin, Bohol.

A total of 72 passengers and crew were rescued by M/V Sea Jet, which was on its way to Tubigon.

Fishermen from the nearby island of Mocaboc also helped in the rescue efforts.

Among those rescued was a three-month-old infant.

Assurance

The owner of the Island Shipping Corporation assured all the injured passengers of the ill-fated M/V Island Fast Craft 1 of medical assistance.

The company will also provide burial assistance to the families of the three fatalities.

The company has also submitted a marine protest to the Philippine Coast Guard –Cebu Station around 3 p.m. yesterday.

This was confirmed by PCG-Cebu Station chief, Commander Rolando Punzalan.

Alex Tan, owner of the shipping company said that he will make sure fatalities will be given proper burial.

Tan added that what happened was an isolated case, but they will wait for the result of the investigation to be conducted by the Special Board of Marine Inquiry.

Meanwhile, Punzalan said that the passenger, who was reported missing, was rescued by the crew of a pump boat and brought to Talisay City.

Punzalan said that they cannot comment on allegations of survivors that there were not enough life vests.

“We presume they have complete life jackets but isa rin ‘yan sa iimbestigahan ng Special Board of Marine Inquiry,” he said.

Punzalan encouraged passengers to contact their stations hotline numbers in case of emergency 09276334512 and 09296787923.

The Maritime Industry Authority or MARINA-7 last issued a passenger safety certificate to the M/V Island Fast Craft 1 on February 18, 2011, which will expire on February 7, 2012.

The said vessel was 29 years old.

According to Engr. Mardon Martin, the Safety Engineer of the MARINA-7 that a report of the incident was already sent to the Maritime Crisis Management Committee in Marina-Manila.

“We are waiting for further directive but with the incident may be there will be new policies to prevent the reoccurrence of the same incident,” Martin said.

The Marine Environmental Protection Unit is now continuously monitoring the area where the vessel sunk to determine if there was an oil spill.—with Ric V.  Obedencio/NLQ (FREEMAN)