Two passenger vessels were barred from sailing after they both stalled at sea while leaving from Cebu City Sunday and heading here on Monday.
MV Trans-Asia 5 stalled off Naga City at 9:05 p.m. last Sunday due to engine trouble after it left Cebu City’s Pier 5 an hour earlier.
It was headed to Cagayan de Oro but was towed back to Cebu City yesterday.
Another vessel of Trans Asia Shipping Lines, the MV Trans-Asia 3, stalled at the vicinity of Shell Island after it ran out of fuel at 5:30 a.m. yesterday.
It left Ozamiz City and was headed to Cebu City at the time.
Jose Cabatingan, legal officer of the Maritime Industry Authority of Central Visayas (Marina-7), said his office suspended the passenger ship safety certificates of the two vessels pending inspection.
Cabatingan said the shipping company must implement corrective measures on the two vessels before the Marina inspection.
He said Marina will submit a report to the central office for decision.
In the meantime, Trans Asia will continue to operate its fleet.
Capt. Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard commander, said they received a report on MV Trans Asia 5 at 10 p.m.
Punzalan said they learned that the shipping company immediately tapped the services of two tugboats from Gothong Shipping and Malayan Towerage.
He said Trans-Asia 5 safely docked at pier 5 at 10 a.m. yesterday.
All 531 passengers and 16 crewmen were safe. Punzalan said the MV Trans Asia 3 was supposed to arrive at 6 a.m yesterday but arrived two hours later in Cebu City’s Pier 5.
The vessel manage to refuel, Punzalan said. All 188 passengers and 16 crew members were safe.
The Coast Guard official said he talked to Trans-Asia Shipping owner Kenneth Sy who assured cooperation and aid to passengers.
Punzalan said both crews of the vessels are required to submit their marine protests to their office and Marina.
Trans Asia Shipping Lines human resource manager Abner Llenos said they are addressing the two incidents and will take care for the passengers.