Cebu Ferries, Cokaliong named cleanest ships

Cebu-based vessels that adopted best sanitation practices were recognized yesterday in award rites by by the government and industry peers.

Dr. Edgardo Sabitsana, regional director of the Bureau of Quarantine, said the selection was based on  rounds of random inspection among vessels in the passenger, cargo and ferry categories.

MV Cebu Ferry 3 of  Cebu Ferries Corp. was adjudged the cleanest cargo-passenger vessel while MV Filipinas Dumaguete of Cokaliong Shipping Lines was recognized as the cleanest in the big ferry vessel category.

MV Super Ferry 21 of Aboitiz Transport System took home honors for the cleanest luxury vessel while MV Lapu-Lapu Ferry 1 of the Lapu-Lapu Shipping Lines was acknowledged the cleanest for small ferries.

MV Alfonso Sr. of the Gothong Southern Shipping Lines Inc. bagged the first prize for the cargo category.

Acknowledged as the cleanest fastcraft was Supercat 30 of the Supercat Fast Ferries Inc.

The criteria for awards include physical sanitation of the vessels, crew attitude, coordination of shipping operations and passenger feedback.

“Sanitation is a prime factor for shipping operation that should be monitored,” Sabitsana said.

The Bureau of Quarantine also gave special individual awards.

Cebu Ferries’ Corp.’s Neil Lagrosas was awarded as nurse of the year while Dr. Cesar Cabrera of the Princess of the South was awarded doctor of the year.

Other awardees were Edilberto Manipis of Cebu Ferry 3 for Cook of the Year and Ariel Dela Cruz and Nestor Oledan of Cebu Ferries Corp. for Chief Steward of the Year.

Teresa Cabal of MV Super Ferry 12 of ATS Consolidated Inc was awarded Vessel Manager of the Year. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya