The Maritime Industry Authority in the region is planning to ban the operation of pump boats plying the Cebu-Camotes Island route.
MARINA-7 safety engineer Mardon Martin said they came up with the plan after the sinking of MB Ave Maria 5 last Tuesday afternoon killing at least three persons.
Martin, however, said the implementation of the plan will depend on the result of the investigation on the MB Ave Maria 5 sinking, which will commence on Monday after boat captain Reil Florentino filed his marine protest before MARINA 7 last Thursday.
A marine protest is the statement of the boat captain about the incident.
During the investigation, Martin said that they will call on the boat captain and the boat owner, Riza Borloza, a town councilor of Poro, Camotes.
The investigation will focus on the possible lapses of the crew, which resulted to the death of couple Magdaleno and Victoria Maranan and a certain Catalina Betog of Tudela, Camotes.
MARINA-7 has already suspended the license of Florentino pending investigation of the incident. — Gregg M. Rubio/QSB