Coast Guard to check ships at Cebu ports

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station (PCG-Cebu) will conduct random inspections on sea vessels to ensure the safe travel of passengers to their destinations especially as the Holy Week nears.

PCG-Cebu Station chief, Commander Weniel Azcuna said he also sent letters to the shipping owners and operators to make sure that their vessels would be seaworthy to avoid any accidents.

“I want to emphasize their responsibility to ensure that their vessels are ready to accommodate passengers and that the passengers’ safely arrive to their destinations,” he said.

Azcuna also appealed to vessels’ crew to avoid overloading.

But as a precaution, he said, they would conduct random inspections on sea vessels to check on the engine’s condition and the readiness of their crew to respond to any emergencies.

The Coast Guard has also set up tents where their help desks or passenger assistance centers in Piers 1, 3, and 4 are located.

The Cebu Coast Guard has been placed under red alert status starting yesterday./Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan