Sulpicio Lines used old guidelines for sailing - BMI

MANILA, Philippines - The Marine Board of Inquiry on the capsized Princess of the Stars said on Wednesday that Sulpicio Lines did not use the new guidelines for sailing vessels which states that a shipping company is responsible for determining movement during inclement weather. This was the initial finding of the Board of Marine Inquiry during its hearing Wednesday regarding the mishap which resulted in the capsizing of the Sulpicio Lines-owned MV Princess of the Stars and the deaths of its passengers and crewmen, according to a report on dzRH radio. BMI head Rear Admiral Ramon Liwag said Sulpicio Lines was using the old guidelines which Sulpicio lawyer Arthur Lim read. He was referring to memorandum circular 03-98A dated October 15, 1998, stating it is the responsibility of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to plot the route of a typhoon and give warnings to owners of sea vessels. Liwag said that this circular has long been replaced, and that the latest is memorandum circular 0407 - issued June 27, 2007 - saying that sailing through Signal No. 1 is under the discretion of a ship’s captain and the management of a shipping company. During the BMI hearing, Commander Ramon Reblora of the PCG said Sulpicio Lines cannot blame the PCG because it is the shipping company’s responsibility to determine the movement of the typhoon, according to a separate dzRH report. “That’s why I am asking Mr. Go here, is he aware that this memorandum circular on movement of vessel during heavy weather is already known to you?" he said. Sulpicio Lines owner Edgar Go said they were not informed that the PCG had changed its guidelines. The hearing will resume Friday, where officials and radio commanders from the shipping line's Manila and Cebu ports will be questioned about their communication with the ill-fated ship when it sailed Friday night until its capsizing Saturday afternoon. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV