The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in Central Visayas suspended five of seven Weesam Express vessels owned by SRN Fast Seacrafts pending inspection and audit on their sea worthiness.
Marina also ordered the investigation of the Cebu Coast Guard Station officials for the delay in the rescue operations of Weesam Express 8 that ran aground off the waters of Talisay City in Lawis Ledge past 6 p.m. Saturday.
Transportation Undersecretary Aristotle Batuhan told Sun.Star Cebu that the Coast Guard will be asked why the lighthouse was not functioning that night.
Weesam Express 8 left the Tagbilaran City port at 4 p.m. and was supposed to dock at Cebu City Pier 4 around 6 p.m. It was carrying 208 passengers and 13 crewmembers.
The Coast Guard, for its part, wants the Cebu City Council to pass an ordinance penalizing captains of vessels for failing to immediately report sea accidents.
Rolando Lizor Punzalan, station commander of the Coast Guard Cebu station, said the penalty should be on top the fines imposed by Marina.
The Marina issued the suspension of Weesam 3, Weesam 5, Weesam 6, Weesam 7 and Weessam 8, said Mardon Martin, senior supervisor of Marina-Central Visayas.
The two other vessels, Wessam 1 and Weesam 2, were spared because these are presently on drydock.
Marina-Central Visayas Director Nannette Villamor-Dinopol said she was about to issue an order suspending the operation of Weesam 8 but he was informed by their central office in Manila that Marina Administrator Emerson Lorenzo convened the Maritime Management Crisis Committee to tackle the Weesam incident.
Martin said that Weesam 3 and Weesam 5 are plying the Bacolod City-Iloilo City route. Weesam 6 is sailing the Ormoc City-Cebu City route. Weesam 8 is servicing the Cebu City-Tagbilaran City route, while Weesam 7 is plying the Zamboanga City-Isabela, Basilan.
Weesam 3, Weesam 5, Weesam 6 and Weesam 8 will be re-inspected and audited in Cebu City. Weesam 7 will undergo the same procedure in Zamboanga City.
Source: (EOB/PDF/Sun.Star Cebu)
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