CEBU CITY—The fire in a ship owned by Trans Asia Shipping Lines, which is facing investigation for the sinking of another of its vessel, couldn’t have come in a worse time.
While inspectors of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) were checking vessels of Trans Asia Shipping Lines, a fire broke out in the cargo hold of one of its vessels, MV Trans Asia II, while it was docked in Pier 5 of the Cebu Port about 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
A lit cigarette thrown into the cargo, rubber soles for shoes, started the fire, according to Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard station commander.
MV Trans Asia II was one of the company’s nine vessels that were grounded by Marina pending results of an investigation of another of the firm’s vessels, MV Asia Malaysia, in Ajuy, Iloilo, last Sunday.
All 107 passengers and 35 crew members of the MV Asia Malaysia were rescued.
Punzalan said the fire was immediately put out by crew members but it left burn marks in the cargo hold. “It was an isolated case,” he said.
The fire caused an alarm, especially among the members of the Marina inspecting team who were inside the MV Trans Asia V, which was docked beside the Trans Asia II when the fire broke out.
Julian Sy Jr., Trans Asia board chair, said the fire has no effect on the seaworthiness of the vessel and caused alarm only because there was an ongoing inspection of the firm’s vessels when it broke out.
Sy said two ships—MV Trans Asia II and III—had been inspected on Tuesday afternoon. Marina inspectors found only minor deficiencies, which were easily corrected, he added.
Sy said the company was just waiting for an order from Marina that would allow the two vessels to resume operations.
But he added the firm remains hopeful that Marina would lift the suspension order on all its vessels to avoid losses that could reach millions of pesos, and inconvenience on the part of passengers and shippers.
Marina Administrator Emerson M. Lorenzo ordered the suspension of Trans Asia’s operations on Monday, pending the results of an inspection of the company’s nine other vessels.
In his order, Lorenzo said Trans Asia would be allowed to resume operations after it has satisfactorily complied with and passed the additional International Safety Management Code audit and reinspection to be conducted by Marina regional office in Central Visayas, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard.
Aside from MV Asia Malaysia, MV Trans Asia II and MV Trans Asia III, the shipping firm’s other vessels are MV Asia Indonesia, MC Asia Japan, MV Asia Philippines, MV Asia China, MV Trans Asia, MV Trans Asia 5 and MV Asia Pacific, a cargo vessel.
The shipping lines assailed the suspension order and described it as improper and irregular.
Trans Asia lawyer Dexter Viñan said under the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004 or Republic Act No. 9295, the suspension order could be issued only after a hearing or an investigation.
But in this case, the company was penalized first before a hearing could be conducted, Viñan said.
“All our vessels complied with all documentary requirements, statutory documents, international regulation and domestic regulations. There should be no basis for the issuance of that suspension order. For the company, the order is improper and should have not been issued in the first place. Under RA 9295, the suspension of a company franchise should be done after a hearing and proper investigation,” Viñan said.
Marina also ordered Trans Asia to explain in writing in 72 hours why its certificate of public convenience should not be suspended or revoked for its failure to comply with operational and safety standards for vessels set by applicable conventions and regulations resulting in the mishap.
Viñan said the firm would answer the show cause order in 72 hours.