Marina probes Ocean Jet 7 fastcraft incident

Marina probes fastcraft incident
Teresa D. Ellera January 27, 2018 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2018/01/27/marina-probes-fa...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has started an investigation on the incident involving Ocean Jet 7 fastcraft which hit the apron of Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port, resulting to the injury of 40 passengers last Wednesday.

Marina-Bacolod Development Officer Jose Ramilo Sumague said officials of operator Ocean Fast Ferries Inc. have decided to send Ocean Jet 7 back to its homeport in Cebu City.

Sumague said that before the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) can release the impounded vessel, they would have to secure a special permit to navigate from the Marina-Central Visayas Region.

He added that Marina-Region Central Visayas is awaiting the report from Captain Sergio Alcibar on why and how the collision happened.

The incident affected the Ocean Fast Ferries’ operations, reducing the number of its trips to only four daily from Bacolod to Iloilo and vice versa.

Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, head of Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod, said the vessel, which came from Iloilo City, was approaching the port around 4:40 p.m. when it encountered engine trouble.

The vessel was only 50 meters away from the port, but the boat captain failed to maneuver it properly, causing the collision.

Vingno said there was negligence on the part of the boat captain because he did not inform the passengers about the mechanical problem.