When the chief of the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas (PCG-7) promised to “teach a lesson” to the boat owner and crew of the Motor Banca (MB) Mansan for sailing at night despite a ban against night travel, it should also question how and why the crew were allowed to sail in the first place.
The crew of MB Mansan left Taliban port in Bohol province despite reports of rough weather caused in part by the impending arrival of tropical storm “Lando.” Big waves made sea travel by bancas dangerous.
Asked why they chose to make the trip from Bohol to barangay Pasil, Cebu City at 10 p.m. last Friday, crew member Saturnino Abapo replied, “Anugon man gud kaayo (It’s a waste if we didn’t make the trip).”
With passengers who are mostly vendors at the Pasil market, it’s not difficult to see why the crew was motivated to continue with the trip. We don’t know if they were paid extra to do so, but they decided that it must be worth it since Lando wouldn’t make landfall until yesterday.
As they found out to their regret later, the waves made short work of the banca, ripping the nylon rope that held the bamboo poles together, causing it to capsize despite jettisoning fish and other products to avert disaster.
The calculated risk made by boat owner Lolito Abapo and skipper Norberto Aparici backfired and endangered the lives not only of their passengers but also of their crew and cost a rescuer , chief mate Rudyard Payusan, his right foot.
The motor banca owner may chuck off Payusan’s loss of a limb as the risk of a seaman’s career, but the capsizing of the boat could have easily been the end of all 22 passengers and crew.
They bobbed in the cold water for almost eight hours, holding on to debris, before being spotted by the cargo ship of Payusan and the passing vessel Filipinas Dinagat of Cokaliong Shipping Lines.
It’s a tribute to the humanity of fellow crewmen who stopped to stage a difficult rescue in rough water. The rescue took almost two hours, and back-and-forth trips to find the right timing to approach the capsized banca.
A firm lesson needs to be made indeed.
The banca owner lost a small boat and fish cargo; A chief mate sacrificed a limb and a secure future as a seaman. The loss could have been higher in human life, the supreme measure of value.
If the Coast Guard can suspend the banca owner from making further trips for a period, that would make a significant dent in his business operation to make him more mindful of safety and common sense at sea with the lives and property entrusted in his vessels. He should also compensate Payusan for his permanent disability.
This isn’t the end of harrowing tales of sea accidents but we don’t have to make it easier to repeat.