THE Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA 7) suspended the MV Trans-Asia 3 after it encountered engine problem while sailing to Cebu City from Ozamis City on Monday dawn.
Jose Cabatingan, Marina information officer, said the agency suspended the passenger ship safety certificate of the vessel which prevented them from sailing back to Ozamiz City.
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines which owned the vessel must fix the problem so the suspension will be lifted, he said.
Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu commander Agapito Bibat said MV Trans-Asia 3 was transporting 44 officers and crew as well as 412 passengers from Ozamiz City to Cebu City when it encountered a problem on its starboard main engine at 1 am Monday somewhere at the vicinity of Siquijor province.
It turned out that the exhaust valve of cylinder 3 of the main engine was defective, Bibat said. The vessel still managed to continue the trip using the port engine.
The vessel docked at pier 5 in Cebu City at 12:27 pm Monday. Since then, Bibat said the vessel was no longer allowed to sail until the crew can present the certificate of seaworthiness from their office.