MANILA, Philippines--The Department of Transportation and Communications is asking the shipping industry to be ready to fill the void should Sulpicio Lines Inc. be shut down for its history of maritime disasters.

The Maritime Industry Authority is hearing the case for the cancellation of Sulpicio's certificate of public convenience. As a contingency measure, government has been talking to members of the shipping industry on the effects of a possible Sulpicio shutdown in the next two months.

According to DOTC Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs Elena Bautista, who appeared at the weekly Balitaan sa Tinapayan (News Talk over Bread) Forum on Sunday, the shipping industry leaders said they needed 30 to 60 days "to prepare to fill the void."

Bautista added that Sulpicio has been ordered to submit a self-assessment report to show why it should be allowed to continue operating and what areas in its operations and systems it would improve.

Sulpicio Lines vessels have been involved in four maritime disasters in the past 20 years, claiming about 5,000 lives. The latest of these disasters is the sinking, on June 21, of the MV Princess of the Stars, which brought down with it 800 passengers and crew and a cargo of the highly toxic pesticide endosulfan.