TANKER EYED IN FISHERS’ DEATHS
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is coordinating with Singaporean authorities in its investigation into a tanker suspected to have rammed a Filipino fishing boat, resulting in the death of three fishermen on Monday.
In a message to reporters on Friday, PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said PCG personnel are now in Singapore to reach out to the local Port State Control (PSC) authority to inspect the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, MV Pacific Anna.
“The inspection should be targeted in the vessel compliance with the regulations of SOLAS Chapter V (safety of navigation) ; the result of their inspection could be used in our investigation,” Balilo said.
The PCG has also sent a formal request for the Marshall Islands Flag State to launch its own investigation into the incident.
“We expect with this formal request the Flag State of Marshall Island will conduct a safety investigation in compliance with the IMO’s Casualty Investigation Code Chapter 6 that the state of the ship involved in a very serious maritime casualty is responsible for ensuring that a marine safety investigation be conducted and completed,” Balilo said.
The result of these investigations, he said, will be used to pursue claims and damages for the victims, survivors, and owner of FFB Dearyn, the Filipino boat that capsized in the incident.
To date, the PCG is also planning the salvage and towing operations for FFB Dearyn, with the PCG Aviation Force to conduct aerial surveillance while a 44-meter PCG multi-role response vessel to secure the waters around the incident area.
Harbor Star, a private maritime service provider, will conduct the salvage and towing operations to bring FFB Dearyn to its home port in Subic, Zambales.
On Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the sea collision was likely an accident and occurred 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan, contrary to earlier reports that it was inside the waters of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
He also dismissed speculations that China was involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino sees the need to conduct a Senate special investigation on the sea mishap that killed three Filipino fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc on Oct. 2 in the West Philippine Sea to help determine the country’s “archipelagic sea lane.”
Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said he is weighing the idea of whether to start the investigation while still waiting for reports from concerned entities required by international rules.
The lawmaker said he is waiting for the final investigation report of the Marshall Islands since it is the flag carrier, Singapore as the port of destination of the Pacific Anna, the crude oil tanker identified to have rammed the fishing boat, and investigation reports from the Philippine Coast Guard and Marina.
“So, habang hindi po nakakalap yon, ito po yong wine-weigh in ko kung sisimulan na ang imbestigasyon,” he said.
Tolentino explained that there is a need for a Senate investigation even though other agencies are already conducting their respective investigations because they need to determine the Philippine archipelagic sea lane to prevent the same incidents that killed Filipino fishermen.
“Ang pakay dito ay ang pagbubuo ng archipelagic sea lanes. Ang ibig sabihin po nito ay iyong talagang daanan—dito dadaan yong mga barkong domestic, foreign at international vessels na malalaki, nang sa ganun alam ng ating mangingisda kung saan dadaan at makakaiwas sa isa’t isa,” he said.
Tolentino, who visited the families of the sea mishap in Zambales, said the fishermen-survivors told him that the incident happened at about 4:20 a.m. while they were having coffee and recounted that the Pacific Anna could have seen the FBB Dearyn, the rammed fishing boat because the lights were bright.
He said this incident could have been avoided if the archipelagic sea lane in the Philippines had already been determined. PNA, Camille P. Balagtas
