Port execs ground trips of ship line

CITY OF CALAPAN—Port authorities here have grounded all trips of Besta Shipping Lines, which owns the roll-on-roll-off MV Baleno 168, that sank after seawater entered the vessel as it was about to dock at the Calapan port on Thursday morning.

Weng Sanz, coordinator of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said over the phone on Friday that port authorities have grounded all trips of the shipping line following the incident.

Victor Arellano, the Philippine Ports Authority’s (PPA) port manager, said the Philippine Coast Guard and PPA immediately cordoned off the area to prevent unauthorized persons from getting close, since the vessel has fuel and could explode.

Eighteen vehicles were still in the vessel.

Initial investigation showed the vessel has a hole near the propeller, which caused the ship to tilt. Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon