Senator warns travelers vs overloaded ships

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. warned Holy Week travelers to be alert against firms that deliberately overload passenger ships.

“Maritime accidents brought about overloaded boats are not uncommon in our country where the only means of cheap inter-island transport is by boats and other sea vessels. We must learn from the past if we want to save lives,” said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.

He also urged the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to intensify its Holy Week security measures at seaports not only to avoid crimes but also prevent sea tragedies.  

Revilla also called on the public to report to the authorities any sea vessel that violates its prescribed passenger capacity.

“Usually, we learn that a boat is overloaded when it already capsized. Ignoring the danger of overloading is a way of tolerating the sailing of a floating coffin,” he said.

Revilla said the travelers’ participation is very important in avoiding overloading-related accidents.

“Even if they are in hurry to reach their destination, they should not take the risk of riding an overloaded vessel… Chance passengers cause overloading. They must remember that unlisted passengers cannot claim anything from the ship owners in case of accidents,” he said.   

Revilla cited that among the most frequently mentioned causes of sea accidents are overloading, ageing facilities, badly trained crewmembers, and poor compliance with safety precautions and measures.

Last June 21, M/V Princess of the Stars capsized in the Sibuyan Sea at the height of typhoon “Frank’s” fury, leaving more than 800 dead. The country’s – and the world’s – worst peacetime sea disaster was the collision of the M/V Doña Paz with M/T Vector in Tablas Strait on Dec. 20, 1987, in which more than 4,000 people died.