Two more ships cleared

Island Shipping company will resume normal operations for its Bantayan route after the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) cleared two of its three remaining suspended vessels last week.

Alex Tan, management representative of Island Shipping, said that Marina notified them of the lifting of suspension last Friday.

“We can now resume normal operation in Bantayan,” Tan told Cebu Daily News.

The two vessels cleared to sail were LCT Island 1 and the Island Express III.

Both vessels ply the Hagnaya to Bantayan route eight times daily.

Lawyer Jose Cabatingan, Marina spokesman, said that the office immediately inspected the five vessels of Island Shipping to make sure that the economic activities on the northern part of Cebu wouldn’t be affected.

Marina suspended the entire fleet of Island Shipping Company after MV Island Ferry Fastcraft 1 which plies the Cebu to Bohol route caught fire and sank. Its chief mate and two passengers died in the August 21 accident.

The Super Island Express III, however, is still suspended.

Tan said the firm was completing minor deficiencies noted by Marina during their inspection of the vessel docked in Pier 3 of Cebu City port.

Last Aug. 24, Marina lifted the suspension order on Island Express 3 and LCT Express 1 to sail and ply the route to Bantayan island.

Marina noted that both vessels are still new and were dry docked two weeks before the Aug. 21 incident.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) ordered the suspension of the company’s entire fleet last Aug. 22 and was carried out by Marina the following day.

Cabatingan said that if the vessels would not be able to meet the requirements prescribed in the audit, a formal investigation will be conducted by the Board of Marine Inquiry in the Marina Central office./Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya