Stranded passengers transferred to another vessel

FORTY-eight passengers of the MV Georich vessel that got stranded in Cebu last Wednesday evening left for Dumaguete City after being transferred to another ship last night.

“The ship officers said they informed the passengers that there was an engine problem,” Coast Guard-Central Visayas District Commander William Melad said yesterday.

The passengers were fed and attended to by the shipping company after the trip was cancelled.

The passenger vessel was scheduled to leave at 10 p.m. last Wednesday.

Some passengers, like Jessie Candia of barangay Poblacion, Talisay City claimed that the ship officers did not inform them of the reason behind the postponement.

Candia, an employee of a motor vehicle company in Dipolog City, said there were passengers who were bringing some remains back home.

The MV Georich vessel owned by George and Shipping Lines is bound for Dumaguete and Dipolog cities.

The passengers were transferred to the MV GP Ferry 2.

Melad said a vessel violation receipt is issued to every vessel that failed to meet its scheduled departure time for invalid reasons.

“If there would be a violation receipt issued, it will be forwarded to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and they will investigate,” Melad said.

He said the Coast Guard will investigate the incident.

“If the vessel has been inspected and declared as safe for navigation then they are allowed to sail,” Melad said. Correspondents Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag