Case hearing of 'ill-fated' M/V Josille II set on June 20

Monday 18th of June 2012

MANILA, June 18 (PIA) -- In a press release, the Department of Transportation and Communications said that the hearing of the case against the owner of M/V Josille II, the Atienza Shipping Company, is set on June 20, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the MARINA office.

It said that Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) OIC Administrator Atty. Nicasio A. Conti had ordered the suspension of the operation of Atienza Shipping Company, following the sinking of its M/V Josille-II, a 95.96 gross ton wooden hulled vessel built in 1984, with 163 passenger capacity. MARINA also suspended the ship safety certificate of MV April Rose, Atienza’s remaining vessel, and is not allowed to sail until its seaworthiness is checked.

The Seafarers’ Identification Record Book and Qualification Document Certificate of all the officers and ratings of the ill-fated M/V Josille II were likewise suspended by MARINA until further orders are handed down.

Based on latest reports gathered by MARINA, M/V Josille II was carrying 52 passengers and 14 crew members during the time of the incident. Out of the 52 passengers, 34 were listed in the manifest, while 18 others were not in the manifest.

Initial inquiry made by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that M/V Josille II was traversing at vicinity 1.2 nautical miles from the shoreline of Pangauanen island when the vessel’s GPS malfunctioned and went off course towards the shallow portion resulting in its agrounding 20 meters from the shoreline.

Of the total 66 passengers, seven people died, 56 rescued, and three are still missing. The PCG is still conducting search and rescue operations to find the missing passengers.

The manifested passengers who died in the incident will be given P200,000 each per passenger by the ship’s insurance company, while those not in the manifest will be afforded with first aid and hospital services, food as well as other necessary relief items. (DOTC/RJB/JCP/PIA NCR)