Cawayan Ferry told to be drydocked

The troubled Cawayan Ferry 1 has managed to return to Polambato Port in Bogo City, Cebu from Cawayan, Masbate last Friday night carrying 183 passengers.

Leo Mata of Coast Guard Hagnaya Sub-Station in San Remigio, Cebu said Cawayan Ferry 1, which docked late by two hours after it reportedly ran aground at the vicinity waters of Cawayan, Masbate, arrived at Polambato Port at 6 p.m. last Friday.

Cawayan Town Councilor Joel Ybañez said that Coast Guard personnel told him that the ferry was just on anchorage while waiting for the high tide before it can dock. The ferry reportedly did not run aground.

Mata said that at around 9 p.m. last Saturday, the ferry crew found out that seawater has seeped through ship prompting them to pump out overnight.

It was only yesterday morning that the crew members found a four-inch crack at the stern port side of the ship’s sheer, he said.

“Nag-conduct mi og inspection, gi-recommend nga i-dry dock lang una para masuta ang seaworthiness,” Mata said.

The Maritime Industry Authority-7 is also set to conduct its own inspection while it holds the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) of Cawayan Ferry 1 barely two days before its expiration on November 7, 2017.

“Wala pa ma-suspend ang PSSC pero gi-advice na namo ang tag-iya nga ipa-dry dock ang barko. Dili confirmed nga buslot, ipainspect pa na nato sa Monday. Ang sulti sa company may deperensya ang rudder,” said MARINA-7 Director Jose Venancio Vero Jr.

Rudder is a device used for steering and maneuvering a vessel. Rudders are hydrofoils which are pivoting on a vertical axis. They are located normally at the stern behind the propeller to produce a transverse force and steering moment about the ship center of gravity by deflecting the water flow to the direction of the foil plane.

Cawayan Ferry 1 left Polambato Port with 98 passengers at 12:00 Thursday midnight.

Earlier reports said that the ferry had ran aground at the vicinity waters of Cawayan, Masbate.

The ferry finally was able to dock past 8 a.m. Thursday morning, over two hours late from its regular time of arrival at 6 a.m.

Owned and operated by Cebu-based 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.