DOTC: Aboitiz vessels to be grounded

MANILA – Passenger vessels of Aboitiz Transport System could be barred from travel as early as Tuesday following the sinking of the SuperFerry 9 off the Zamboanga Peninsula Sunday morning, a maritime official said Monday.

Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Thompson Lantion said the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard are set to issue a show-cause order to Aboitiz management on Monday.

“There will be a show- cause order submitted to the Aboitiz management today and there will be an audit inspection…There will be a due process and that means all Aboitiz passenger ships will not be allowed to travel,” Lantion told radio dzMM.

He said MARINA and PCG inspectors will conduct an audit inspection to determine the seaworthiness of Aboitiz passenger vessels.

Lantion said the two agencies have been tasked to form a board of marine inquiry to investigate the SuperFerry 9 sinking, which killed at least nine people. He said Aboitiz management is already coordinating with the Coast Guard on the inquiry after securing the captain of the vessel, identified as Jose Yap.

“The hearing can start by Wednesday in Zamboanga where the tragedy happened,” Lantion said.

He said the BMI could also summon rescued passengers of SuperFerry 9 to appear before the BMI. One of the rescued passengers earlier told radio dzMM that the ship was already listing when it left General Santos City Saturday morning.

Lantion said the Superferry 9 was built in Japan in 1986 and sold to William Lines. It was eventually purchased by Aboitiz Transport and used for its fleet of passenger vessels.

Abandon ship

The Superferry 9 issued a distress signal at 2:30 a.m. as it tilted in heavy seas, authorities said. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the PCG received the distress call around 3 a.m.

The ship tilted around 35 degrees and not 45 degrees as earlier reported by a passenger. Authorities disclosed that some people “had jumped into the water in panic” as the ship was listing, the Agence-France Presse reported.

Alvin Desta, one of the passengers and an employee of Star Cinema, called radio dzMM and said many of the passengers were roused from their sleep after they felt the ship tilt.

The Star Cinema crew on board the ship also included its art department staff. The Star Cinema crew brought with them equipment, vehicles and costumes.

At 3 a.m., Tess Fuentes, operations director of Star Cinema, said she received a call saying that all passengers had already been given life jackets.

Around 10 a.m., authorities announced that SuperFerry 9 has already sunk in the vicinity of Batarompon Point., west of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Jess Supan, vice-president for Safety and Security of SuperFerry, earlier said SuperFerry 9 had been involved in two mishaps in 2006 and 2007. He said the SuperFerry 9 was “our first vessel to receive ISO certification… in the first place they wouldn’t be allowed to leave the port if there’s any deficiency.”

Tamayo said the weather was good when the ship left General Santos City. He declined to speculate what caused the ship to tilt.

• ABS-CBN

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