Sulpicio ship allowed to sail

MANILA, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) yesterday allowed one of the passenger ships of Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars that sank last year, to sail from Manila to Cebu.

Marina administrator Maria Elena Bautista said the Princess of the South was allowed to operate after Sulpicio complied with all the requirements of the board, including the protection and indemnity coverage of $1.5 million for removal of the ship’s wreckage and $1.5 million for the cleanup of the oil spill from the sunken ship.

The Sulpicio vessels were grounded after the sinking of the Princess of the Stars last year where hundreds of lives were lost.

Bautista said 200 Marina and Philippine Coast Guard personnel accompanied the trip from Manila to Cebu around 10 a.m. yesterday “to make sure the crew understands safety procedures.”

She said the passenger ship, one of the 16 vessels of Sulpicio Lines Inc., has a capacity of 1,334 people.

The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) recommended the suspension of Sulpicio Lines’ franchise after investigations revealed that human error caused the sinking of the ship.

The Princess of the Stars capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon on June 21, 2008 at the height of typhoon “Frank.”

Around 50 passengers survived while only 300 bodies were recovered from the sea tragedy and more than 500 remained missing.