Coast Guard, MARINA start probe into M/V St. Gregory sea incident

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Western Visayas have started their parallel investigation of the marine incident involving 2Go's vessel M/V St. Gregory the Great.

Commodore Athelo Ybañez, PCG-Western Visayas commander, said they want to know if there was a violation on the safety procedures causing the ship to get damaged. "We are looking at the possibility that they took a different route," he said.

Based on the initial investigation conducted by the PCG-Iloilo Station, led by Lt. Cmdr. Dominador Senador III, the ship carrying 364 passengers did not run aground but hit rocks while navigating the Siete Pecados islets along the Iloilo Strait last weekend.

It created a gaping hole, between five to 10 meters long, in its hull. The water seeped through the engine room but the vessel managed to reach Arrastre Port at Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City.

Ybañez said Senador's team will submit the result of its investigation of the incident to PCG-6. A special board of marine inquiry will then be conducted.

"We would like to know if they have violated some procedures like if they did not execute emergency measures or if they properly informed the passengers and authorities immediately after the incident," he added.

Meanwhile, Engr. Joseph Roel Pador, senior shipping specialist of Marina-6, will head the agency's investigation on the seaworthiness of the ship. He said they will look into the cause on why the water soaked the ship's engine compartment.

As it is, for now, the ship's certificate to voyage is cancelled until a clearance will be given by the MARINA central office.  (FREEMAN)