Marina suspends safety certificate of ship hit by fire in Bohol
CEBU CITY – The Maritime Industry Authority-Central Visayas (Marina-7) has suspended the passenger ship safety certificate of a passenger cargo vessel that caught fire off Panglao, Bohol early Sunday morning, June 18.
Marina-7 has sent its technical personnel to check on the incident involving MV Esperanza Star, said Engr. Rochyl Villamora, public information officer of the Marina-7 Maritime Technical Division.
Villamora added that the ship captain was asked to submit a maritime protest within 24 hours after the incident.
He said submission of marine protest is required under the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations of 1997.
It is through the submission of marine protest that the cause of the fire will be determined.
"These are very important information that Marina collects yearly for our statistics purposes and to have the strength analysis if there's a downtrend or upshoot of accidents. That's how we will also formulate our way forward measures,” said Villamora.
Villamora added that Marina-7 has personnel who will conduct casualty investigations to check the safety practices of the company.
All 65 passengers and 55 crew members of MV Esperanza Star were unharmed.
MV Esperanza Star of Kho Shipping Lines departed for Tagbilaran City, Bohol from Lazi Port in Siquijor past midnight. The vessel caught fire around 3 a.m.
Passengers were safely rescued with the help of some fishermen and crew of MV Trans Asia 19.
Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and other responders also helped in the rescue operation.