BMI to start probe of SuperFerry 9 sinking

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) would start today the investigation on the sinking of M/V SuperFerry 9 off the Zamboanga peninsula last Sept. 6, which left 10 people dead.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cdr. Armand Balilo said the ship’s captain Jose Yap, his chief mate, second mate, third mate, and duty able-bodied seaman were summoned to appear at the Philippine Coast Guard head office in Manila today.

Balilo said ship officers are expected to give their testimonies before the eight-man panel tasked to determine the cause of the disaster and the administrative liabilities of ship owners, officers, and crew of the vessel.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo ordered the BMI, chaired by Rear Admiral Alejandro Flora Jr., to complete the probe and submit the report within 30 days.

The panel would also look into reports of hull crack as well as the malfunction of the vessel’s generator, which allegedly caused the sinking of he ship.

“There were reports that the power generator set went on and off, there were reports that ship had a hole so water came in, another was cargo lashing problems,” Balilo said.

The BMI has also set aside two days to call the chief engineer, second engineer, third engineer, fourth engineer, duty engineer and duty motorman.

Investigators would invite on Sept. 18 and 19 the designated person ashore (DPA), port captain, technical superintendent, safety officer, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) surveyor, and Jerome Manuel Services.

The BMI would also invite Marina Maritime Safety Office Director Jose Venanero Vero and officer-in-charge Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Division engineer Daniel Reyes.

Board members would later go to Iloilo and General Santos City to get statements of the survivors on Sept. 22 to 25.

Tamayo said they would continue to conduct search and rescue operations in the vicinity of the Zamboanga peninsula after receiving reports that six persons remained missing after the sinking of SuperFerry 9.

He said the PCG would extend the search for 15 to 20 days after the mishap last Sept. 6, before the recovery operations are stopped.

The PCG has deployed several vessels in the area to monitor the oil sheen that reportedly spilled from the submerged ship.

Officials said that 14 containers were spotted floating near the disaster site and might pose danger to passing ships.

The passenger vessel, which carried over 900 people, tilted and sank off the Zamboanga peninsula on its way to Iloilo City.