"Accident-prone" areas at sea identified

GMA News Research mapped out major marine mishaps from 1980 - 2008 using data from the Board of Marine Inquiry. These accidents resulted in vessels that sunk, capsized, or those that ran aground. News Research identified three areas – Manila Bay, Tablas Strait and the Visayan Sea -- that may seem to be "accident-prone" or sites where repeated marine accidents occurred. All of these areas are along the major sea lanes when traveling from Manila to Visayas. “These areas have heavy traffic. These are identified marine routes," says Chancellor Glenn D. Aguilar of the UP Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Science. Dr. Laura David of the UP Marine Science Institute seconds this observation on the three identified areas, saying, “Madalas [mangyari ang accidents] along navigational lines. There’s nothing unusual because this is where the ships are." Of Manila Bay, Chancellor Aguilar says, “Yes, yung Manila Bay, because of heavy traffic. Saka medyo makipot o narrow yung passage papasok at palabas sa pier dito." Noting the five sea accidents in the are of the Visayan Sea, Aguilar says, " Maybe because maritime talaga ang basic means of transportation to and from the Visayan Islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Samar and Leyte." Dr. David adds that the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands near Palawan is hard to navigate because of shallow waters. She said big vessels find it hard to navigate shallow waters. The three "accident-prone" areas at sea

• Manila Bay
  • where two of the Philippines major ports (Manila North Harbor and Manila South Harbor )
  • Traffic of marine vessels is high  as this is either a starting point or destination point of many marine routes
  • Chancellor Glenn Aguilar says that landforms along marine routes could be a factor why Manila Bay is accident-prone. “Saka medyo makipot o narrow yung passage papasok at palabas sa pier dito", he said. “Bukod dito mataas talaga ang traffic dito.
  

  Vessel	Nature	Location	Date
  M/V Cebu City vs MV Kota Suria	collision	Manila Bay	12/2/1994
  MV ACX Lilac vc barge Cargolift III	collision	Manila Bay	9/2/2000
  MV Princess of the Orient	sinking	vicinity of Fortune Is.	9/18/1998
  M/V Super Ferry 12 vs M/V San Nicholas	collision	vicinity of 1 nm, Limbones Island	5/25/2003
  F/B King Roger	capsizing	Manila Bay, South Harbor, Manila	8/15/1997