Coast Guard belies Marina claim sunken vessel had no permit
THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday night released a document showing that the sunken oil tanker that spilled 800 liters of oil off the waters of Oriental Mindoro last month had a permit to operate, contrary to a Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) finding presented at a Senate hearing earlier in the day.
In a Facebook post, the Coast Guard shared six pages of the certificate of public convenience supposedly issued by Marina to RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc., the owner of sunken MT Princess Empress, in November.
In the document, Marina approved the inclusion of MT Princess Empress in RDC’s fleet since it was “financially capable to maintain its operations.”
The certificate issued on Nov. 16, 2022 also indicated that the permit will expire on Feb. 6, 2042.
On Tuesday, Marina Administrator Hernani N. Fabia told the Senate environment committee the sunken vessel was excluded from RDC’s certificate.
In response, RDC said it bought the vessel last year and applied for a certificate change in November to include the tanker in its fleet. It said it had completed the documentary requirements on Dec. 2. The vessel was on its ninth voyage when it sank.
The Philippine Coast Guard did not mention the November 2022 certificate supposedly issued by Marina to RDC. It insists its workers had inspected the ship, but said there could have been lapses.
Coast Guard oil spill response incident Commander Geronimo B. Tuvilla told News 5 on Wednesday they were unable to fully explain their side during the hearing due to “pressure in communication.” “There was just no opportunity to explain further, you saw the situation there.”
At the Senate hearing, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros said Coast Guard authorities should not have allowed MT Princess Empress to leave a harbor terminal in Bataan province in central Luzon on Feb. 28 since they did not tick seven boxes in the pre-departure checklist.
“[Coast Guard ] officers who checked the ship should be jailed for dereliction of duty,” Senator Rafael T. Tulfo said at the hearing.
Coast Guard spokesman Armando A. Balilo told a news briefing the vessel had used the permit four times in its transactions with the Coast Guard — once each in Manila, Cebu, Misamis Oriental and Iloilo.
“As far as we are concerned, we relied on this document, that’s why we allowed the vessel to operate,” Mr. Balilo said.