Marina has 5 weeks to finish probe on ferry sinking

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Damian Carlos yesterday ordered the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) to speed up investigation of the sinking of MV Blue Water Princess.

“Upon instruction of President Arroyo, I have directed the BMI to submit its report on the incident not later than third week of August,” he said.

President Arroyo was reportedly irked by the slow pace of investigation on the cause of the sinking of the ferry.

Search and rescue operations ended last Monday but BMI has yet to formally convene as of yesterday.

The investigation of the ill-fated ferry is set to begin this week with PCG Southern Tagalog District Commander Capt. Rodolfo Isonera as head.

Members of the BMI are currently consolidating information and testimonies gathered on the sinking of the ferry that left 11 people dead.

The panel is expected to summon ship captain Virgilio Retardo and other officers. Survivors would also be invited to help the BMI draw a picture of the ferry a few minutes before it sank.

The Blue Water Princess, owned by AC-Joy Express Liner and operated by Blue Magic Ferries, sank off Quezon province last July 12. The roll-on roll-off ferry reportedly left Port of Lucena on Wednesday afternoon en route to Masbate, but ran aground at around 3 a.m. the next day after it encountered strong winds and huge waves.

The 61-year-old ship captain earlier told Coast Guard officials he saw huge waves coming at them so he opted to turn sideways to seek shelter at the Bondoc peninsula. But some 500 meters away from shore, the vessel ran aground, causing its hull to crack.

He claimed it was “pure accident” and there had been no miscalculation on his part.

Rescue teams ended on Monday their search and retrieval operation inside the sunken ship, concluding there were no more victims after four days of underwater operations.

Eleven casualties were earlier identified as chief mate Rodolfo de la Fuente, ordinary seaman Wilgin Perlas, apprentice Daveson de Guzman, and passengers Nicanor and Leonila Arsipe, Gloria Deuda, Jean de Jesus, Cristina Labong, Lourdes Ricafranca, Maribel Mirallo, and Lucena Arrizagada.

Carlos stressed that the minor oil sheen monitored by divers has also been put under control.

Investigators have already discounted the possibility of overloading as cause of the sinking.