MV Princess of the Stars Update

Suspension on passengers vessels lifted wants Sulpicio Lines Inc, owner of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, on Tuesday formally moved for the "urgent" lifting of the suspension on its passenger vessels.

A GMA’s Flash Report said on MV Princess of the Stars Update, officials from the shipping firm submitted an “extremely urgent motion" before the investigating body of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).


According to Sulpicio, it has already incurred huge losses in revenues due to the government’s order grounding the company’s passenger vessels.

Sulpicio's operations were suspended late June after the MV Princess of the Stars capsized on June 21 off Romblon at the height of typhoon "Frank."

The television report said Marina officials asked the prosecution team to first submit a formal comment on Sulpicio’s motion before they could arrive at a decision.

Marina said it could decide on Sulpicio’s urgent motion in two week’s time at the latest, around the same time the maritime agency said it could also complete its investigation into the June 21 sea tragedy.

Marina administrator Vicente Suazo Jr had earlier noted how Sulpicio Lines, in the past marathon hearings, has become “desperate" in asking the investigating body to dissolve the suspension order.

"There has been a clamor for the lifting of the grounding… At the moment, the Sulpicio is desperate," Suazo had said.

The Marina team conducting the probe is one of two government bodies tasked to conduct hearings on the capsizing of the MV Princess of the Stars.

The other investigating body is the Philippine Coast Guard’s Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), which Sulpicio claimed does not have the authority for such maritime probe.

The BMI has completed its investigation and submitted its findings and recommendations to the Philippine Cost Guard.

The PCG however has since twice returned BMI’s report, saying it needed to include more supporting documents and strengthen its recommendations regarding the toxic endosulfan loaded in the ship.

Last week, a meeting between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Sulpicio officials led to the lifting of the suspension on its cargo vessels.

However Sulpicio first has to pass an audit by the Marina before its first batch of eight cargo ships will be allowed to sail anew.

Concerns were raised regarding the economic effects of continuing to ground the cargo vessels of Sulpicio since they account for some 45 percent of cargo operations in the country.

The capsizing of the 23,800-ton MV Princess of the Stars - the latest Sulpicio vessel to emerge in a maritime tragedy – led to the death of hundreds of people and triggered a public outrage against the embattled shipping firm.

Through the Public attorney’s Office, at least five multimillion-peso damage suits have already been lodged against Sulpicio Lines.