Sulpicio to appeal BMI findings

Source - 08/28/2008/Tribune

The owners of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars yesterday vowed to challenge the recommendations of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) which pointed the blame to human error by the captain of the ship adding that company officials can also be held criminally liable for the incident. At the resumption of the hearing of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on the tragedy, Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) lawyer Arthur Lim said they will avail themselves of the 30-day appeal before the BMI. In its 65-page report, the BMI said the SLI “failed to be extra-diligent in transporting its passengers to its destination.” As a recommendation, the BMI said the franchise of the Sulpicio Lines, which has been repeatedly embroiled in previous sea tragedies, should be suspended. The BMI has given Sulpicio Lines 30 days to appeal the body’s decision. “There was a failure of the master to exercise extraordinary diligence and good seamanship thereby committing an error of judgment,” the inquiry found. It also found Sulpicio Lines liable for failing to stop the captain sailing into the typhoon. For its part, the Marina had already said it would adopt as “input” BMI’s findings, adding it would come up with its own decision as early as next week.