Trans-Asia 2. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
A PASSENGER vessel owned by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Inc. developed engine trouble for the second time in a span of three days, forcing the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina 7) to suspend the passenger ship safety certificate of the vessel as well as conduct an audit.
Another Trans-Asia vessel plying another route, which also suffered an engine problem last Monday, was allowed to resume operations but only for cargoes.
MV Trans-Asia 2, which was carrying 203 passengers and 48 crew, arrived in Cebu about six hours late. It left Iloilo City at 6 p.m. on Thursday and was supposed to arrive in Cebu City at 8 a.m. yesterday (Friday).
It had an engine problem at 4:51 a.m. while in the vicinity of Guinatarcan, Bantayan Island. The vessel arrived at 2:10 p.m. yesterday at Cebu City Pier 5, said Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat.
Bibat said the vessel was forced to use only the starboard engine when the vessel’s port main engine, or left engine, experienced low pressure of its lube oil.
“Ilang gipawong ang port main engine kay kuyaw man to nga mag-overheat kon dunay low pressure sa lube oil (They turned off the port main engine to prevent overheating),” he said.
The same vessel was forced to return to the Iloilo City port and did not pursue its scheduled trip to Cebu last Tuesday evening because of engine trouble.
Jose Cabatingan, information officer of Marina 7, said Trans-Asia 2 was grounded by Marina Iloilo City after the incident last Tuesday but was cleared to sail on Thursday after a reinspection.
Because of the recurring problem, Cabatingan said Marina 7 suspended yesterday the passenger ship safety certificate for Trans-Asia 2 .
He said Marina 7 will conduct not only a reinspection but a thorough and additional audit of the vessel as well.
“Ato i-check ang system, ang safety, ang records, mga remedies nga ilang gi-undertake (We will check the system, safety, records and remedies that were undertaken),” he said.
MV Trans-Asia 9, on the other hand, was allowed by Marina 7 to resume plying its Cagayan de Oro-Cebu City route, but only for cargoes.
Cabatingan said this is more of a preventive measure as recommended by the agency’s safety engineers. After 15 days, there will be another evaluation if the vessel will be allowed to carry passengers again.
Last Monday, MV Trans-Asia 9 also experienced an engine problem while sailing from Cagayan de Oro City to Cebu City. The eight-hour delay in the vessel’s arrival in Cebu City was traced to a leak in the exhaust pipe of one of its two engines while the vessel was in the vicinity of Balicasag Island in Panglao, Bohol.
Trans-Asia human resources manager Abner Llenos would not answer calls to his mobile phone. A female staff said only Llenos can speak on the matter.