MARINA suspends MV Esperanza Star safety certificate

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) suspended the safety certificate of the vessel that caught fire off Panglao, Bohol over the weekend.

According to GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Niko Sereno’s Monday report on “24 Oras,” the MARINA Region-7 suspended the passenger ship safety certificate of the M/V Esperanza Star as authorities investigate the incident.

“It was confirmed that there was a fire incident of MV Esperanza Star and because of that, the ship's seaworthiness was put into question and as a result, the Passenger’s Ship Safety Certificate is hereby suspended,” Engineer Rochyl Villamor, MARINA-7 Maritime Technical Division Public Information Officer, said.

Villamor added that MARINA instructed its safety engineers to conduct an in-depth probe on the fire and called on its Legazpi, Albay Office to issue a show-cause order on the ship's owner.

The safety engineers will look into the fatigue issue mentioned by the crew of the MV Esperanza Star. The ship's captain was also expected to file a marine protest.

For their part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said they would launch a separate probe into the fire.

“Para malaman po naming ang pinaka cause po talaga ng sunog,” said PCG Central Visayas Operations Officer Lieutenant Mark Anthony Tolentino.

(For us to know the cause of the fire.)

The MV Esperanza Star sailed from the Port of Lazi in Siquijor early Sunday at around 3 a.m. and caught fire off Panglao Island.

The fire was declared put out at around 10 a.m.

No one was reported hurt or injured from the incident. There were also no reports of oil spills in the area.

GMA Integrated News sought comment from Kho Shipping Lines Inc., the MV Esperanza Star's operating company, but it has yet to respond as of posting time. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News