(Update) BMI recommends suspension of Sulpicio Lines over ‘Princess’ tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Marine Inquiry on Tuesday recommended the indefinite suspension of Sulpicio Lines Inc. for its failure to exercise due diligence that resulted to the capsizing of one of its vessels, the MV Princess of the Stars, off Romblon province last June 21. "The carrier failed to be be extra diligent in transporting its passengers safely to its destination," Philippine Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said in affirming the BMI findings. Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Senior Grade Armand Balilo, who read Tamayo's decision, said the ship captain - Florencio Marimon - was found to have been "negligent" in performing his duty. "The master failed to monitor the movement of his vessel relative to the movement of the typhoon," Balilo said. The ill-fated vessel left Manila Friday night at the height of typhoon Frank. It slammed into the wrath of Frank in the vicinity of Sibuyan Island while on its way to Cebu in the morning of June 21. At the time of the incident, Princess was carrying more than 800 passengers and crew. Sulpicio Lines said 32 survived the tragedy while 312 bodies were recovered so far. Retrieval operations were halted following the discovery of the endosulfan cargo. - with additional reports from Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV