MARINA lifts suspension of MV Georich

CEBU, Philippines - The MV Georich of George and Peter Lines resumed operation last night following the lifting of the suspension of its Passenger Ship Safety Certificate by the Maritime Industry Authority on Thursday.

The vessel left Cebu at 9 p.m. yesterday for Dapitan City and is set to arrive at 6:30 a.m. today.

MARINA decided to lift the suspension after the company was able to comply with the requirements and has satisfactorily passed the inspection conducted.

Its Passenger Ship Safety Certificate was suspended on January 2 after the vessel developed engine trouble that led to the stranding of 491 passengers off Apo Island.

MV Georich reportedly had an engine derangement while en route from Dapitan City to Cebu via Dumaguete.

Barely two hours after it departed from Dapitan City, the engine stopped and upon inspection by the ship engineers, some parts needed to be replaced to make the engine run again.

While undergoing repairs onboard, the crew asked for assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard to tow the vessel to Dumaguete for safety purposes and also to save time.

All passengers were safely transported to their respective destinations the next day but one passenger filed a complaint before the MARINA seeking the investigation of the incident and to demand that all measures are taken to ensure that MV Georich will not be allowed to operate until it is proven seaworthy again.

Neil Antiquina, the complainant said that the captain failed to exercise leadership during times of crisis and GP lines did not take care of them enough since they were only served crackers for dinner. He said that the fact that their lives were put at risk is a big deal that needs to be brought up to the management and the authorities.

But some passengers claimed otherwise. Passenger Delilah Samson said that GP Lines was able to handle the situation well, they were fed well, their tickets were refunded and they were safely transported back to Cebu.

“Okay ra man mi. Wala man mi pasagdi sa kompanya. Kana laging pobre ta, kahibaw ta mo-adjust,” Samson said.

On the Maritime Incident Report submitted to MARINA regional director Glenn Cabañez by inspectors Mardon Martin, Diocariza Ocariza and Geff Kenneth Gesite, it was recommended that the suspension of Passenger Ship Safety Certificate be lifted considering the satisfactory result during the sea trial from Dumaguete to Cebu.

However, it was subject to the condition that GP Lines must submit a report on the measures undertaken by the company to prevent the reoccurrence of the main engine trouble as well as the steering casualty to improve the Preventive Maintenance System of the vessel’s propulsion and steering system.

GP Lines was also ordered to submit a report on the measures undertaken by the company to improve crowd and crisis management on board the vessel.

Inspectors also issued a Show Cause Order to GP Lines and Captain Roland Villarin requiring an explanation in writing why no administrative fines or penalties shall be imposed on them for endangering the lives of the passengers and crew and for failure to submit a Marine Protest on the steering casualty incident involving the ship last November 2.

Villarin is also asked to explain why he failed to immediately inform the passengers of the incident last January 2 to avoid possible panic. —Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)