'Marina to answer for any Aboitiz ship-related mishap'

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) will be held liable if anything goes wrong with the five Aboitiz-owned vessels it allowed to sail again, a Palace official said on Friday. "We assume Marina has talked to Aboitiz and ensured that all the benefits that would be given to those affected were already taken care of by the company," deputy presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said in a press briefing. "We would hold Marina responsible for that." Last week, Marina suspended the operations of Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC), the Philippines' largest shipping firm, after one of its vessels, SuperFerry 9, sank off the coast of Zamboanga Peninsula on September 6. Nine people died in the incident. But the country's maritime regulator on Friday allowed five of the Aboitiz vessels to sail after a seaworthiness audit showed that the ships only showed "minor problems" [See: Marina: 5 Aboitiz ships can sail amid ferry investigation] Marina administrator Ma. Elena Bautista told GMANews.TV that the agency was ready to accept the responsibility over the five Aboitiz ships. "We really inspected the ships. We were very strict since we knew we had responsibility over them," Bautista said. SuperFerry ships 2, 12, and 19 and Cebu Ferry vessels 1 and 2 are set to resume operations, transporting passengers and goods to their respective destinations. In a disclosure from the Philippine Stock Exchange, all SuperFerry vessels went through the following inspection stages: 1) Corporate ISM Audit; 2)Technical inspection of each vessel by Marina and PCG; 2)Individual inspection of vessel -ISM audit; and 4)Re-inspection by Marina after the audit. Five other ships remain grounded Five other Aboitiz-owned vessels are still subject to inspection and thus have been disallowed from sailing. These are MV Our Lady of Good Voyage, MV Our Lady of the Rule, MV Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and SuperFerries 1 and 5. The Aboitiz family has been complaining about losses that the company incurred after the government grounded its fleet, according to Bautista. "Gano'n talaga (That's the way it is)," Bautista said, adding that Sulpicio Lines' fate is worse because its ships have been prohibited from boarding passengers since last year. In August 2008, the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) recommended to the Marina the indefinite suspension of the franchise of Sulpicio Lines Inc. following the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars off the coast of Romblon last June 22, 2008. [See: Timeline: M/V Princess of the Stars tragedy] MV Princess continued on its voyage despite warnings by the weather bureau of strong waves caused by Typhoon 'Frank' (international name: Fenshen). At least 67 died from last year's tragedy, while 747 are still missing. Since then, Sulpicio's 14 vessels have only been allowed to ferry cargo throughout the country. Unlike Sulpicio, Aboitiz only has "minor problems" with its safety procedures., according to Bautista. "Sa Sulpicio they had to overhaul everything. Halimbawa walang imbentaryo ng spare parts (They had to overhaul everything in Sulpicio. For instance, they don't have an inventory of their spare parts)," Bautista said. No Aboitiz influence Bautista also denied allegations that Marina's decision was influenced by the Aboitiz family, which is said to have close ties with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Enrique Endika Aboitiz, the shipping company's CEO, has a seat in Marina's 10-member board. However, he is among the three members who do not have voting power in the board. "Even if Aboitiz could vote, he would not make the majority," Bautista said. Spokesperson Fajardo also said that the Aboitiz family’s alleged closeness to Mrs. Arroyo had nothing to do with the Marina’s decision to allow five of the ATSC’s vessels to sail again. The two other non-voting members are Carlos Salinas of the Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. and Coast Guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo. Among Marina members who have voting power are the representatives from the Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of National Defense, Philippine Ports Authority, and Development Bank of the Philippines. - with Jam Sisante and Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV