PCG, BMI start probe on vessel sinking

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) convened yesterday in the Bicol region to start their joint investigation on the sinking of M/V Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The roll on, roll off (RORO) vessel sank last Friday off Burias Island, resulting in the death of two people while seven remain missing.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the inquiry would “help establish the cause of the incident and to make the proper and necessary administrative recommendation based on the findings.”

The inquiry has started to gather details about Carmel from its owner, Medallion Transport, including the vessel’s history, its franchise and other requirements under the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), he said.

“All of these would be looked into during the investigation,” Balilo said.

He said the inquiry board would summon the ship’s captain Lauro Mateo to narrate the incidents leading to the sinking.

Mateo earlier said the vessel tilted and sank after one of the passenger buses on board came loose from its chain and nylon mooring.

Balilo said some members of the crew would also be called to testify as to their role in the ship, including those in charge of navigation, like officers on deck and the navigator on duty at the time of the incident.

Balilo said no deadline has been set for the conclusion of the probe.

“They just have to finish it immediately so their report would be submitted to the higher authorities,” he said.

The PCG suspended its search and retrieval operations for the seven missing due to bad weather in the area.

In the meantime, authorities have focused their search on the coastal barangays on the possibility of finding the seven missing passengers.

Last June 14, Carmel sailed from Pio Duran, Masbate at around 2 a.m. headed for Aroroy, Masbate province. At around 5:10 a.m. the vessel reportedly sank in the vicinity of Burias Island in Masbate.