MARINA suspends MV Maria Helena’s safety certificate after mishap

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Sunday suspended the passenger ship safety certificate of MV Maria Helena, which allegedly ran aground in Romblon with 93 passengers and 36 crew onboard.

“In view thereof, the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of MV ‘MARIA HELENA’, hereby SUSPENDED until further notice from this Authority,” MARINA Regional Office IV chief Rizal Victoria said in a letter.

“Further, said vessel shall be subjected to a thorough safety inspection by MARINA Inspector/Surveyor in order to determine her seaworthiness condition prior to lifting of suspension, if warranted,” he added.

Victoria cited the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004, Ship Survey System (3S), Memorandum Circular No. MS 2023-01, and Administrative Order No. 11-19 for the suspension.

“The Ship Safety Certificate shall be suspended when the ‘ship has been involved in maritime casualties and incidents such as, but not limited to, fire, engine derangement, grounding, collision, allision and hitting hard objects, that may put into question the integrity of the hull and its integral parts and other affected machineries/appliances’,” he said.

MV Maria Helena allegedly ran aground near the shoreline of Banton, Romblon past midnight on Sunday after a tire of one of the rolling cargoes blew up, which broke the lashing, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Passengers started disembarking from the distressed vessel using its lifeboat at around 3 a.m. They were assisted by the PCG and local passenger boats in the vicinity.

Other passengers were then brought to the covered court of Barangay Nasunugan for the assessment of their condition and further assistance.

All passengers were safe after the incident.

GMA News Online had sought comment from the MV Maria Helena's operator, Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc., but the company had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News