Sulpicio Lines Now Banned

The suspension of Sulpicio Lines vessels as an aftermath of the sinking of its flagship M/V Princess of the Stars created an impact on the movement of  cargoes and passengers in Bohol.

 This was the assessment of Norris Oculam, president of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry when asked to react on the possible implication to the province's transport sector as a result of the Sulpicio Lines suspension of all its passenger and cargo vessels.

 Maritime bodies regulating the operations of passenger and cargo vessels ordered the suspension of Sulpicio Lines after the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars at the height of Typhoon Frank.

 Hundreds of passengers including Boholanos perished in the sea disaster.

 At least three Sulpicio vessels used to ply the Tagbilaran and Jagna ports. Dipolog Princess used to have a weekly schedule from Manila while two other vessels plied from  the ports of Nasipit and Cagayan de Oro to Jagna.

 According to Oculam, cargoes like groceries and  construction materials which are either sourced in Manila or Cebu were affected by the ban of Sulpicio vessels.

 Even Bohol's steady supply of vegetables from Cagayan de Oro was also affected since the route from this Northern Mindanao city to Jagna was stopped.

 The suspension of Sulpicio vessels was compounded by a new Coast Guard ruling that vessels irregardless of tonnage are no longer allowed to sail when typhoon Signal No. 1 is hoisted over its port of origin , its voyage path and its ultimate destination.

 Oculam said this new ruling affected the flow of passengers and cargoes even in places like Tagbilaran.

 The BCCI president said the Coast Guard should have conformed  its directives to international standards.

 Asked if his opinion represents the stand of the BCCI, Oculam emphasized that this was the position of the majority of the chamber's board.

 However, he said, the chamber will meet first week of August to tackle its official position on the suspension of Sulpicio vessels.

 Only last Thursday,  the Philippine Roro Shipping Association in the Visayas came up with a one page ad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer lamenting the suspension of Sulpicio vessels.

 The paid ad said the suspension took a toll on the shipping industry, affecting not only the passenger and cargo sectors but also other shipping operators in the inter-island transport chain.