BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sub-station in this city advised the operator of the distressed M/V Weesam Express 6 to file a marine protest and secure a certificate of seaworthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) before it could be allowed to resume its operations.
A marine protest is “a declaration on oath, by the ship’s master, of the circumstances attending the damage or loss of his vessel.”
It is also “intended to show that the loss occurred by the perils of the sea, and concluding with a protestation against any liability of the owner to the freighters.”
The Iloilo City-bound M/V Weesam Express 6 departed from Bredco port in this city at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, and experienced mechanical failure off Guimaras Strait.
All 172 passengers and 19 crew members were saved and no one was seriously injured in the incident, except for a few passengers who complained of sea sickness or hypertension that only required minor medical attention.
Weesam Express staff also provided assistance to passengers, either offering them refunds or giving them options and travel alternatives should they prefer to continue with their journey to Iloilo City.
Chief Petty Officer Louie Campaner, station commander of the PCG sub-station in Bacolod City, said the fast craft’s mechanical failure was caused by a broken rudder.
Campaner said, based on information given to them by the crew and the inspection carried out on the fast craft, the lock that holds the rudder in place broke down.
He added there was no engine failure and the fast craft’s power was still functional, although he explained that if it continued on with its journey, the rudder could have likely fallen off which could ultimately cause the fast craft to run in a circle due to a loss in steering.
As of this writing, only one vessel of Weesam Express was allowed to continue operating the Bacolod-Iloilo route. (Watchmen Daily Journal/with a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
