Inquiry Finds Ferry Operator Was Using Outdated Shipping Guidelines

Nilanjana Bhowmick - AHN News Writer, June 27, 2008 12:50 a.m. EST

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Executives of the company that owned the ferry that capsized with more than 800 people aboard were called into a closed door meeting with the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) on Friday.

 

The inquiry began on Thursday to probe the reasons for the accident. On Friday, the board barred the media from the hearing and quizzed Sulpicio Lines vice president Edgar Go and his lawyer Arthur Lim inside the room.

 

On Thursday, the inquiry committee found that the guideline about sending ships sailing in bad weather that was being used by the ferry operator was out of date. It also came out that the crew had to contact Sulpicio officials through their cell phones as radio communication broke down during bad weather.

 

Meanwhile, divers are still struggling to retrieve bodies from inside the vessel.

 

Philippines coast guard officials said that more than 100 U.S. and Philippines divers are working away at retrieving the bodies. However, their work is being made difficult as most of the passageways are blocked with debris.

 

More than 850 passengers and crew were on board when the Princess of Stars, a seven-story ship, wrecked off the central island of Sibuyan on Sunday during Typhoon Fengshen. Only 56 people survived the accident.