The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) of MV Maria Helena, a vessel that ran aground in Banton Island in Romblon province on Sunday.
The suspension was stated under an order penned by MARINA Regional Director Rizal Victoria and was released on Monday, July 17.
"The Ship Safety Certificate shall be suspended when the "ship has been involved in maritime cascualties and incidents such as, but not limited to, fire, engine dearangement, grounding, collision, allision, and hitting hard objects, that may put into question the integrity of the hull and its integral parts and other affected machineries/appliances," the order reads.
"In view thereof, the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) is hereby rquested to implement in this letter," it added.
MARINA also ordered its inspector or surveyors to conduct a a thorough safety inspection of MV Maria Helena to determine its "seaworthiness condition prior to lifting of suspension, if warranted."
The maritime industry likewise directed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to carry out the suspension.
According to PCG Southern Tagalog's incident report, MV Maria Helena was en route to San Agustin Port in Tablas, Romblon when it ran aground off the nearest shoreline of Barangay Nasunugan in Banton, Romblon on the midnight of July 16.
It said that the vessel carried 93 passengers and 36 crews along with 16 rolling cargoes.
The Coast Guard said the MV Maria Helena swamped after one tire of the rolling cargoes exploded.
The PCG's Marine Environmental Protection Group - Romblon is now conducting oil spill assesment since it was reported that the vessel carried 21,000 liters of marine diesel oil (MDO).
No passengers and crew were reportedly hurt.
