BMI probe on SuperFerry 9 tragedy reaches Iloilo
A team from the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) is here today for the continuing probe on the sinking of SuperFerry 9 off the Zamboanga Peninsula on September 6.
The ship which was on its way to Iloilo City and was carrying about 1,000 people sank off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte. There were passengers from Iloilo who died in the sea tragedy out of the recorded 10 fatalities. The rest of the passengers were rescued by nearby ships.
In an interview over dyFM’s “Zona Libre” program, Atty. Ramon Reblora said the investigation will be held at the office of the Philippine Coast Guard from September 24 until 25.
Initially, the team will get the testimonies of nine Ilonggo survivors. The statements of the passengers will be compared to the testimonies of the ship captain, crew and other passengers. The team also conducted inquiries in General Santos City.
Reblora, spokesperson of the probe team, said the investigation will focus on three aspects. One is to determine the cause or causes of the sinking, determine whether there is administrative liability on the part of the crew and owner of SuperFerry and recommend measures so that the same marine accident would be prevented.
Before the September 6 tragedy, on May 4 SuperFerry 9 became stranded near Camiguin Island with 900 passengers. Minor repair was made on the ship’s engine.
Initially, SuperFerry 9 ship captain Joel Yap theorized the strong winds may have caused the sinking. However, his claim was rejected by the Philippine Coast Guard.
The BMI has already touched on issues on how the cargo was placed inside the bottom decks. There were theories based on the experiences of the survivors that cargoes moved putting the ship off balance. The passengers heard a loud thud from the bottom decks.
Issues on the compensation of the passengers and casualties have created a disagreement on the part of the passengers and the shipping company after the tragedy.