MARINA lifts suspension of 2 Island vessels

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority lifted yesterday the suspension of two passenger vessels of Island Shipping Corporation after they passed the re-inspection and national safety management audit.

Allowed to resume operation are the LCT Island II and MV Island Roro I. The two vessels ply the Hagnaya-Bantayan Island route.

In a statement, MARINA-7 director Nannette Villamor-Dinopol said the two vessels have only minor deficiencies, which were promptly rectified by the company.

Dinopol said it also helped that LCT Island II is a new ship launched just in April this year while the MV Island Roro I just underwent drydocking two weeks ago.

She said rectification of the deficiencies on the MV Super Island Roro I, which was inspected yesterday at Pier 3, is ongoing. The vessel is serving the Cebu City-Tubigon, Bohol route.

MV Island Express III and LCT Island I were scheduled for re-inspection and audit yesterday at Hagnaya port.

The MV Island Express V is due for drydocking at Santiago Shipyard in Tayud, Consolacion.

MARINA ordered on Monday the suspension of the remaining fleet of Island Shipping after one of its vessels, MV Island Fastcraft I, caught fire on its way to Cebu from Tubigon, Bohol on August 21.

At least three people were killed during the incident. The vessel sank afterwards. — /LPM (FREEMAN)