A local shipping company has filed over P3 million damage suit against another shipping firm based in Mandaue City over a sea collision that involved their vessels three years ago.
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Incorporated asked the Regional Trial Court to order the Jomalia Shipping Corporation and its officials to pay for damages because of the collision between MV Trans-Asia I and LCT Gwen Vida off Cabilao Island on July 29, 2005.
Also named respondents of the civil case filed yesterday were Mario Lua, president of Jomalia Shipping Corporation, and Allan Racaza, ship captain.
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Incorporated represented by its legal counsel Dexter Viñan is asking P2,956,521.61 representing the cost of repair and the losses in passage and freight revenue plus the legal interest.
It also asked for additional P200,000 for moral and exemplary damages; P100,000 nominal damages and another P100,000 by way of expense and litigation cost. On top of it Trans-Asia is demanding the sum equivalent to 10-percent of Jomalia Shipping Corporation’s obligation to them by way of attorney’s fees.
Trans-Asia’s cargo and passenger vessel, MV Trans-Asia I was on its way to Cebu City from Cagayan de Oro City on July 25, 2005 when it was bumped by LCT Gwen Vida off Cabilao Island.
Trans-Asia claimed that their vessel was seaworthy when it sailed from Cagayan to Cebu and was equipped with the necessary equipment. According to Trans-Asia, it was LCT Gwen Vida that hit their vessel’s mid-ship portion.
The collision allegedly happened because of the defendants’ negligence and incapability of the ship’s captain. According to Trans-Asia, the officers and crew of the LCT Gwen Vida lacked the skill to avoid the collision.
“The hitting of MV Trans-Asia I by LCT Gwen Vida was due to the fault and negligence of the master and the officers and crew,” the complaint reads.
Trans-Asia claimed that the defendants did not observe the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea. — Fred P. Languido/NLQ