MARINA suspends safety certificate of capsized passenger boat in Binangonan

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Friday suspended the safety certificate of the passenger boat which capsized in Binangonan, Rizal.

In a statement, MARINA said it suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) of motorized banca Princess Aya “effective immediately until further notice from this authority.”

The passenger board capsized in the Laguna Lake near Binangonan at 1 p.m. on Thursday. 

The death toll from the incident is now at least 26, as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) resumed search and retrieval operations on Friday. 

But Rizal Governor Nina Ynares said the total number of fatalities is 27.

She said all of them have already been identified and authorities are already in communication with their families to claim the bodies. According to the governor, the passengers of the capsized boat are all residents of Rizal.

She said all of them have already been identified and authorities are already in communication with their families to claim the bodies.

‘Unfortunate sea incident’

“The decision to suspend the safety certificate is in response to the unfortunate sea incident, which raises concerns about the integrity of the ship's hull, integral parts, and other affected machineries/appliances,” MARINA said.

The agency said the suspension of the boat’s safety certificate will only be lifted following a thorough inspection of the vessel and a comprehensive evaluation by its inspectors.

“The safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the utmost priority, and any reinstatement of the certificate will be based on favorable recommendations ensuring the vessel's compliance with all safety standards and regulations,” it said.

MARINA said it will conduct a Marine Safety Investigation (MSI) once the search and rescue operation is completed.

“Further, a Show Cause Order has been issued to the shipowner commencing the administrative proceedings pursuant to relevant MARINA rules and regulations. However, it is important to note that MARINA is currently gathering data and information regarding the cause of the maritime incident,” the agency said.

“Additionally, the MARINA will also initiate administrative proceedings relative to its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) once all relevant data is gathered and the Marine Safety Investigation (MSI) is completed,” it added.

The captain of the boat is now in the custody of authorities, according to GMA Integrated News’ Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita on Friday.

The captain maintained he was not aware that the boat was overloaded.

An initial investigation showed the boat left the Port of Binangonan on Thursday and was en route to Talim Island when it was hit by strong winds.

The boat was around 45 meters from land when it was hit by strong winds, causing all passengers to panic and move to one side, which caused the vessel to capsize, according to the PCG.

The PCG said this caused the passengers to panic and move to the left side, causing the motorized banca to tilt.

The boat was allowed to sail since the storm signals due to Typhoon Egay have been lifted at the time.

The PCG said there were 70 people on board the banca. Its capacity is only 60. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News