EDITORIAL - Another wakeup call

In less than five hours last week, at least three sea vessels ran aground while travelling to Cebu. Good thing there was no report of any injury among passengers in the three incidents.

The M/V Our Lady of All Nations, M/V Joyful Stars and M/V Subic Bay 1 ran aground due to strong winds and waves while carrying hundreds of passengers from different parts of the Visayas to Cebu.   

These latest incidents are just another wakeup call in a country saddled with different sea disasters. In fact, they came just three months following one of Cebu's worst maritime disasters when a passenger ship collided with cargo vessel that left scores dead and dozens missing.

Despite the many incidents, there has been no improvement as authorities squander to finds ways in their effort to modernize the country's maritime industry. However, the government has yet to come up with a concrete overhaul of the industry in order to prevent future tragedies.

In Cebu, there are calls to upgrade a lane of the Lauis Ledge at the south entrance of the port of Cebu because it has been shallow, forcing ships to navigate to the other side that would only increase the chances of collision.

Besides, there are also calls to improve the inadequate monitoring system at the Lauis Ledge. The new system should also include early warning devices that would enable approaching ships to be cautioned about the traffic in the area.

Sea travel has been an important part of the Filipino way of life for centuries. As the center of the country's maritime industry outside Manila, Cebu should have a modernized system that would guide incoming vessels from the Visayas and Mindanao away from shallow waters.

We do not want another sea tragedy. All the past incidents should be enough reason for authorities to overhaul the country's ailing maritime system that, for decades, has already cost thousands of lives.