Captains, crew under custody pending inquiry

WHILE the investigation on last Friday’s collision of the two vessels has yet to proceed, the two ship captains and their crew are not going anywhere, the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu station said yesterday.

“The ship owners will have custody of their captains and crew. But as soon as the Board of Marine Inquiry from Manila convenes, they will be summoned for investigation,” Coast Guard Commander for Cebu Weniel Azcuna said.

The assurance came amid a proposal by Cebu officials for a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) to be set up in Cebu to avoid similar collisions in the future.

For now Azcuna said, the Coast Guard is prioritizing the recovery and retrieval of remains and the containment of the oil spill.

2GO and the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC) should keep preventive custody over the captains and crews of the ships involved.

“The companies will be liable for obstruction of justice if their crew doesn’t show up in the inquiry,” Azcuna added.

He said they need to verify reports that a Trans-Asia vessel was in the vicinity during the incident but didn’t extend assistance.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants a Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) installed in Cebu’s ports since it is a prime shipping destination.

Azcuna said a VTMS is installed in Manila and Batangas ports and is spearheaded by the Philippine Ports Authority.

Rama said he learned that representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) actually met with Azcuna to discuss sea vessel traffic management a few weeks before the accident.

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) said they’ve included the VTMS project in their plans.

“Unfortunately, a loan offer to CPA from a Korean company did not get approval from the National Economic Development Authority,” CPA deputy general manager Yusop Uckung said. Correspondents Jose Santino S. Bunachita and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag