Marina urged to check size of boat that hit Catalyn-B

MANILA, Philippines - The Special Board of Marine Inquiry is set to recommend to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) that it re-measures the fishing boat, that collided with the passenger ship M/V Catalyn-B, believing that it is bigger than its 369-gross-ton claim and should have been skippered by a more qualified captain.

SBMI chairman Commodore Luis Tuason Jr., Philippine Coast Guard-National Capital Region-Central Luzon (PCG-NCR-CL) district commander, yesterday said that the seven-man board estimated that the F/V Anatalia is about 500-gross-ton and not 369 gross tons as earlier reported.

“The board members are thinking recommending, if it is possible, for the Marina to re-assess the ship to ascertain its real size,” said Tuason.

He said that determining the size of the steel-hulled fishing boat would in some way shed light on the qualifications of its captain, Regulo Libril.

A 500-gross-ton vessel should at least be headed by a chief mate, and not someone with a major patron license.

The requirements for a major patron license is that he should be a high school graduate, has met the number of years of experience at sea, passed an oral assessment, passed an examination and have to attend seminars to enrich his competences.

Fake PRC license

A chief mate, on the other hand, would have to undergo a more formal education and training in order to com-mander a bigger ship. He would have to be a graduate of the four-year course Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation.

Earlier in the investigation, the SBMI raised questions on Libril’s qualification. It was believed that he was issued by the Professional Regulations Commission with a major patron license. But during the board hearings, he allegedly admitted that he possessed a fake PRC license which he acquired after paying someone P5,000 in July.

The board was also informed that he reportedly did not have a chart of the Manila Bay, was not aware of the rules on collision and that he did not undergo a formal training on the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme (VTSS).

Tuason added, “Whatever knowledge he has on the TSS, he only got it from overhearing the conversation of other people.” 

The collision that took place on the eve of Christmas, reportedly resulted to 25 deaths, 46 survivors and two still missing persons.

Initial information showed that at around 1:30 a.m. of Dec. 24, the 79-gross-ton wooden-hulled M/V Catalyn-B carrying 73 passengers and crew left Pier 2 of the North Harbor at around 9 p.m. on Dec. 23 and was supposed to reach its destination at Tilik, Lubang Island, Mindoro at 5 a.m. the following day.

The second vessel was the 369-gross-ton steel-hulled fishing boat F/V Anatalia captained by Libril. It just came from a fishing trip in Turtle Island in Palawan and was returning to the Navotas Fishport.

The M/V Catalyn-B is owned by San Nicholas Shipping Lines while the F/V Anatalia is owned by the FilMariner Aquaventures.

The two vessels met at the mouth of the Manila Bay or 2.8 nautical miles Northwest of Limbones Island, Cavite. The M/V Catalyn-B was leaving the bay area while the F/V Anatalia was entering the bay.