MT Princess Empress operations ordered to halt by Marina

MANILA, Philippines–The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on Thursday said it had issued a cease and desist order against the owner of the sunken MT Princess Empress oil tanker.

Marina Administrator Hernani Fabia said that covered by the cease and desist order on RDC Reield Marine Services include the cancellation of the firm’s certificate of public convenience, also affecting its remaining three vessels–two tankers and a passenger vessel.

“We issued two cease and desist orders, one is for purposes of cancellation of the franchise or the certificate of public convenience and the other one is to cease and desist in the operations, pending investigation and inspections,” Fabia told reporters in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice after he attended the meeting of the Oil Spill Inter-Agency Committee.

Fabia said the cease and desist order would stay pending investigation regarding the February 28 sinking of MT Princess Empress off the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, while carrying around 900,000 liters of industrial fuels. The oil spill is now threatening southern Luzon’s ecosystem and coastal communities.

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JPV/abc