Manila: The Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) started the investigation into the August 16 collision of the ferry St.Thomas Aquinas and the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete.
Aquinas ferry owner 2GO Group Inc. and Sulpicio shipowner Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. said that both their ship captains will attend.
The Philippine Coast Guard said that SBMI will also summon Trans Asia Shipping Lines Inc., whose vessel allegedly overtook Sulpicio Express Siete before the sea collision occurred.
Trans Asia allegedly overtook Sulpicio and even saw the M/V St. Thomas Aquinas while on its way out minutes before the collision happened. However, Trans Asia did not go back to help rescue passengers.
The eventual death toll from the sunken ferry is expected to top 100.
Meanwhile, UK-based Nautilus, the union which represents maritime professionals afloat and ashore, has hit out at the needless waste of life.
“This ferry would not be allowed to operate in northern Europe, and it is scandalous that the world seems ready to tolerate second-class rules for different regions. This tragic accident and the accompanying loss of life are an all-too familiar story, and it is time for the double standards to be brought to an end,” Nautilus said in a statement.
“All ferries that do not meet the International Maritime Organisation’s Safety of Life at Sea convention 1990 and Stockholm standards, which were adopted in response to the Herald of Free Enterprise and Estonia disasters, should be withdrawn as a first step, and then all newbuild vessels should be constructed to reduce the risk of capsize,” the union added, before concluding: “Domestic shipping and domestic passenger shipping has long been the poor cousin of international regulatory action, how many more tragic accidents must occur before the international maritime community takes action?” [23/08/13]
