EDITORIAL - Lessons not learned

Oil refiner Petron Corp. is in deep sludge, and it will be buried deeper as residents in the coastal areas affected by the country’s worst oil spill suffer the health costs of exposure to bunker fuel. The oil giant, however, has a deep well of funds and will survive the disaster of M/T Solar I much easier than the environment around Guimaras. Petron should learn some lessons from the sinking of the tanker. Will the Philippine maritime industry learn anything from this catastrophe?

Large shipping companies have upgraded their fleets over the years, especially after major maritime disasters that have claimed thousands of lives. But there are still too many so-called floating coffins ferrying passengers and cargo around this archipelago of 7,100 islands. Many of the vessels are manned by people lacking the required qualifications for their jobs. Operating on shoestring budgets, owners of many maritime transport facilities have resisted efforts to modernize the industry. We are reminded of the consequences almost every year, with decrepit ferries sinking in mild storms or easily catching fire from improperly stowed cargo.

Now, in addition to those thousands of fatalities, we have an enormous oil spill. Initial findings show that the Solar 1 is single-hulled, going against international standards. The country, however, has failed to pass legislation requiring double-hulled vessels at least for transporting toxic substances despite other oil spills in recent years. The Solar 1 captain is reportedly trained to take command only of chemical tankers, although vessel owner Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. insists that its crewmembers have the required qualifications. The captain reportedly decided to leave the anchorage port of Iloilo despite serious damage to the tanker.

Over 4,300 people died when the ferry Doña Paz collided with the oil tanker Vector in December 1987 off the island of Mindoro. Despite the catastrophe, lessons aren’t learned easily here. Two decades after that collision, maritime transportation in this country remains as perilous — for both humans and the environment.