Ormoc City (CNN Philippines) — There was nothing wrong with the design of the ill-fated MB Kim Nirvana-B that capsized in Ormoc City on July 2, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Region 8 clarified on Wednesday (July 8)
The Maritime Industry Development supervisor, engineer Rodulfo Panero, said during the construction of MB Kim Nirvana-B, there was a naval architect who would have verified the appropriate design and that during the vessel’s registration, there was also a naval architect from MARINA who would have also verified the same thing.
He added that the owner of the ill-fated passenger boat complied with all the necessary documents such as license and permit before setting sail.
On the other hand, Capt. Joseph Badajos of the Maritime Casualty Investigation Team from Philippine Coast Guard refused to give the initial results of their investigation into what contributed to the capsized of MB Kim Nirvana-B.
He added that they will show the results to the public as long as they finish their investigation within eight weeks from the day of the incident.
An official of the Coast Guard Eastern Visayas who refused to give his name said that the enforcement of inspection as part of maritime safety is one of the duties of MARINA, but there is an memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA that says thet PCG is deputized to perform the inspection.
Based on MARINA’s ship inspection guidelines, ship inspection should be conducted by the nearest office or unit of the administration or its deputized agent, where the ship is available for inspection.
