Marina-7 to probe ferry's late arrival at port

The Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (Marina-7) will look into the cause why a ferry from Polambato Port in Bogo City docked late at Cawayan port in Masbate yesterday morning.

While Marina-7 Director Jose Venancio Vero Jr., who was in Manila yesterday, has not yet received any report, but he said the agency will dig deeper into the incident.

“Atong ipaimbestigar, atong ipatanaw wala ba mabuslot,” Vero told The FREEMAN.

Sea Man Second (SM2) Mark Laurence Rodriguez of Coast Guard Hagnaya Sub-Station in San Remigio said Cawayan Ferry 1 left Polambato Port with 98 passengers at 12:00 midnight yesterday.

Polambato Port in Bogo City is under the jurisdiction of Coast Guard Hagnaya Sub-Station.

Earlier report said the ferry ran aground at the vicinity waters of Cawayan, Masbate.

But Masbate Coast Guard Station has not received any report of the incident.

According to Cawayan town Councilor Joel Ybañez, Coast Guard personnel said the ferry was on anchorage at the port while waiting for the high tide before it can dock.

“Wa man nasangad, ang ingon sa amo sa taga Coast Guard nga nagangkorahe kay nagpaabot sa dakong dagat,” he told The FREEMAN.

Ybañez said the ferry finally docked at past 8:00 yesterday morning, over two hours late from its supposed time of arrival at 6:00 in the morning.

Owned and operated by Cebubased D. Olmilla Shipping Corporation, Cawayan Ferry 1 is formerly the Super Shuttle Ferry 19 which was sold and its route by Asian Marine Transport Corporation.