Ship Apprehended for Overloading Passengers
A cargo-passenger vessel in Cebu was held in Cebu by the Philippines Coast Guard Saturday, January 3, for overloading passengers.
M/V Graceful Star, skippered by Capt. Pretchard Gayo, reportedly departed the port of Baybay, Leyte carrying a total of 736 passengers.
Said vessel owned by Roble Shipping Lines is authorized to transport only 692 passengers.
Upon arrival in Pier 4-Cebu, the personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Tinago immediately conducted an actual headcount as passengers disembarked the ship.
According to the coast guard, 44 excess passengers were found by the joint team headed by CGSS Tinago personnel together with Field Security – Central Visayas and LET Coast Guard Station Cebu.
Personnel of CGSS Tinago explained to Capt. Gayo their violation and issued Enforcement Inspection Apprehension Report (EIAR) for violating the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Department Order No. 2003/43, The Guidelines for Preventing Excess passengers and Unauthorized Persons on board domestic vessels.