Marina suspends Weesam vessel's operating permit

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) suspended the operation of M/V Weesam Express 7 after the fast craft ran aground off Talisay, Cebu, last week.

A report on “Balitanghali” on Monday said Marina suspended the craft's Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, barring it from ferrying passengers from Cebu to Ormoc City in Leyte and vice versa.

Weesam Express has yet to issue a statement regarding the suspension, the report said.



Last Thursday, the fast craft, with at least 160 passengers, ran aground in Lauis Ledge of Talisay town in Cebu. All passengers had been rescued.

In August 16, 2013, a passenger ship, MV St. Thomas Aquinas, collided with a cargo vessel MV Sulpicio Express Siete in the same general vicinity in the province.

The collision killed about 81 people from the passenger ship, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

To this, Marina plans to put up a vessel traffic management system in the area to prevent sea mishaps, the “Balitanghali” report said. — Rouchelle Dinglasan/KBK, GMA News