Sulpicio may set sail again

MANILA, Philippines - The government is ready to allow the passenger ships of Sulpicio Lines Inc. to operate again after a 15-month suspension if its crew passes an on-board test on how to respond to distress at sea.

Administrator Elena Bautista of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said the crew must be able to demonstrate during the test that they know the procedure for “abandon ship” and other emergency measures.

“SLI would be our test case,” she said.

“We just need to look for people willing to become the passengers. Maybe we would ask some people from the Marina, the Philippine Coast Guard and maybe even some members of the media.”

Bautista said Marina will also audit shipping lines whose vessels have been suspended.

She thought of adding tests on board ship to see firsthand the capability of officers and crew to respond to distress at sea, she added.

The on-board test would first be implemented on Sulpicio Lines, whose fleet was grounded after the 23,000 gross-ton M/V Princess of the Stars sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last June 21, 2008, Bautista said.

Jordan Go, Sulpicio Lines vice president for marketing, said Marin has informed them of the new requirement.

 “We would make proper arrangements (with Marina),” he said.

Go said 60 percent of the revenue of Sulpicio Lines now depends on cargo ships following the suspension of the operation of their passenger vessels.

“We are working on recovery,” he said. “We cannot stay in limbo.”

Sulpcio Lines now has 2,000 employees after layong off 500 people, Go said.

Meanwhile, the Marina is already looking into the fire incident that occurred on board the kitchen of the M/V SuperFerry 1 yesterday.

Marina’s Bautista said she has sent a team to the Eva Macapagal Terminal at the South Harbor to conduct a probe into the fire incident.

The Marina is awaiting a report from the investigators, as it has yet to determine what transpired prior to the fire and what caused it.

When asked if the incident would have any effect on the Marina’s three-men panel’s inquiry on whether they should cancel the franchise or the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of the Aboitiz Transport Service Corp. (ATSC), Bautista said they would adopt a wait and see stance.

 “Let us wait and see first,” Bautista said.

ATSC vice president for safety and security Jess Supan said in a text message that there were no reported injuries or casualties in the fire.

They were informed that at around 2:25 a.m., a small fire broke out in the kitchen or galley of SuperFerry 1, which at that time was docked at the Pier 15, Gate 1, South Harbor, Pier, Manila City.      – Evelyn Macairan