Sulpicio Lines passenger ships allowed to sail

MANILA, Philippines - Sulpicio Lines, Inc.’s passenger vessels may now sail but could undertake cargo operations only in the meantime the shipping firm secures an insurance for third-party liabilities, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said Friday. Vicente T. Suazo, Jr., Marina administrator, said Sulpicio Lines would be allowed to transport passengers once it complies with the agency’s protection and indemnity (P&I) requirement, a marine insurance against third party liabilities and expenses arising from owning or operating ships. "We don’t like the movement of cargoes to be hampered because of the grounding," Mr. Suazo said in a radio interview Friday. "We will strictly have (the protection and indemnity requirement) implemented. If [Sulpicio Lines] does not comply, the vessels will be grounded again," he said, adding the Marina was not pressured by officials of the shipping firm to lift the ban. Calls to Sulpicio Lines representatives went unanswered Friday. Authorities ordered the grounding of all Sulpicio Lines passenger vessels following the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars off Sibuyan island in Romblon province on June 21 at the height of typhoon Frank (international codename: Fengshen). The inter-island ferry sailed from Manila for a 22-hour trip to Cebu, but giant waves and fierce winds battered the 23,800-ton vessel, capsizing it. It carried more than 850 passengers and crew members. Thirty people survived the tragedy, more than 200 died, while the rest remained missing, likely remaining trapped inside the upturned vessel. The tragedy was considered the worst maritime disaster in the country in two decades. While its passenger vessels were grounded after the tragedy, Sulpicio Lines’ cargo vessels were allowed to operate. — Bernard U. Allauigan, BusinessWorld