THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has issued a ruling banning Sulpicio Lines now under operating under the name Span Asia Carrier Corp. from transporting passengers.
In its 50-page ruling on the 2008 sinking of the Princess of the Stars, Marina has cancelled the company’s Certificate of Public Convenience of the following: M/V Sulpicio Express Dos, M/V Sulpicio ExpressTres, M/V Sulpicio Express Siete, M/V Sulpicio Container II, M/V Sulpicio Container IV, M/V Span Asia I, M/V Span Asia 2, M/V Span Asia 3, M/V Span Asia 5, M/V Span Asia 7, and M/V Span Asia 9.
Aside from canceling its CPC, Marina also ordered the shipping firm to pay P800,000 fine for operating without permit to carry hazardous cargoes.
Marina said its operations should be limited to cargo operations only.
Marina said the shipping firm failed to comply with the International Safety Management (ISM) and showed indication of a poor implementation of its safety management system.
Among the non-conformities committed by shippine line are: Lack of compliance with their plans in key shipboard operations; Lack of compliance with the company’s requirements to ensure maintenance of the ship equipment; Lack of proper documentation related to requisitions on ship safety life-saving appliances and equipment etc.; and Lack of coordination and support between shipboard and shore-based relative to ship safety operations and pollution prevention.
“As a result , the Maritime Safety Inspection Team concluded that all the deficiencies and non-conformities found are pointing to a possible failure of respondent to effectively [enforce] their safety management system,” Marina said.