Marina allows 2 Cebu ships to sail

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Region 7 office of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) lifted the other day the suspension of two passenger vessels of Island Shipping Corp. after passing re-inspection and additional national safety management audit.

Allowed to resume operation in the Hagnaya, San Remegio-Santa Fe route in Cebu were the LCT Island II and M/V Island Roro I.

Last Monday, Marina ordered the suspension of the remaining fleet of Island Shipping Corp. after fire broke out reportedly in the engine room of its M/V Island Fastcraft I last Sunday while en route from Tubigon, Bohol to Cebu City, resulting in the death of three persons. The vessel sank afterwards.

Marina -Region 7 director Nannette Villamor-Dinopol, in a statement, to The Freeman said their safety engineers found only minor deficiencies in the two vessels, and these were promptly rectified by the company.

Marina said it also helped that LCT Island II is a brand new ship launched last April, while the M/V Island Roro I just underwent drydocking about two weeks ago.

Dinopol added that rectification of the deficiencies on the M/V Super Island Roro I which was inspected the other day at Pier 3 in Cebu City was ongoing. The vessel is serving the Cebu City-Tubigon, Bohol route.

M/V Island Express III and LCT Island I were also scheduled for re-inspection and audit in the Hagnaya port. The M/V Island Express V is due for drydocking at the Santiago shipyard in Tayud, Consolacion town. – Mitchelle Palaubsanon/Freeman News Service