Demands for Reform in the Wake of Philippine Ferry Fire
There are growing calls for reforms in the Philippines in the aftermath of this week’s tragedy when another inter-island ferry caught fire resulting in casualties and scenes of devastation. The primary agencies overseeing the shipping sector responded with a series of steps while the country’s senate is also demanding actions and planning an investigation.
The Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire aboard the passenger-cargo ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 officially out as of 7:30 a.m. om March 30, 10 hours after the first reports of a fire in the passenger areas of the vessel. Survivors continue to tell the authorities that the fire began in the passenger areas and that there was chaos aboard the vessel. Many people jumped into the water to escape. The vessel came to rest on the shore.
The Lady Mary Joy 3 had departed Zamboanga City for an overnight trip to Jolo, Sulu in the southern Philippines on March 29. Reports of the fire began around 10:30 p.m. while the vessel was near Baluk-Baluk Island where it has come to rest.
As of this morning the Coast Guard along with multiple agencies are continuing the search and retrieval operation. Several teams and vessels remain in the area continuing to look for the missing. Initially they said sections of the vessel were too hot to reach and crews had to be pulled back at one point because of the dangers. Pictures released by the Coast Guard show scenes of total devastation demonstrating the intensity of the fire.
The Coast Guard revised its report now saying that 29 people were known to have died in the fire, down from a report of 31, but that seven people remain missing. Eleven of the casualties drowned and they have been identified. The 18 bodies recovered from the vessel are badly burned and awaiting DNA testing for positive identification. Media reports previously said that several children including one infant were among the dead.
The survivor count has been set at 216 with the Coast Guard believing a total of 252 individuals were aboard. This included 205 passengers and 35 crew. There were also eight Army personnel and four Coast Guard personnel traveling on the vessel. Earlier reports said the manifest for the vessel was incomplete and inaccurate.
“The MV Lady Mary Joy 3 tragedy brings back memories of neglect and problems [with] corruption in the enforcement of safety of seagoing vessels and where passengers ships [or] vessels serve practically as floating coffins because of their lack of safety,” said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva in a prepared statement. The senate is calling for an investigation into both the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard. They want to know the steps taken by the agencies for enforcement of rules regarding seaworthiness, safety requirements, and manning of all vessels operating in the Philippines.
For its part, MARINA issued several directives in the hours after the tragedy. They have ordered a full survey of all the vessels of the Aleson Shipping Lines. Media reports said the shipping company has not made a public statement. On its website the company called itself the dominate shipping operator in Western Mindanao with a fleet of 25 ships.
The regulators ordered Aleson to attend to all of victims and their families. They were ordered to pay for the medical attention of the survivors and to provide financial and other assistance to the survivors and the families of the deceased.
MARINA has also ordered compliance monitoring regarding the safety regulations and necessary steps to prevent similar incidents. They also released a reminder for engine room crews, crew working in other parts of vessels, and passengers on the steps to guard against fires.
Video: Philippine Ferry Fire Kills At Least 31 with Search Continuing
A small inter-island ferry operating in the Sulu Sea in the southern portion of the Philippines caught fire while underway overnight leaving many passengers dead and injured. Officials are struggling to arrive at accurate counts but at the last report, the Coast Guard is saying at least 31 bodies have been recovered but they had been able to access parts of the vessel due to extreme heat. The Coast Guard confirmed 160 survivors while media reports are now saying that approximately 230 passengers and crew survived.
Ferry travel is a common means of transport around the Philippines but has a spotty safety record. It is the second reported incident in the past year. In May 2022, at least seven people were killed in another fire on a ferry.
The Mary Joy 3 was a small combination ferry and cargo ship registered in the Philippines. The 835 gross ton vessel departed Zamboanga for the overnight trip to Jolo both in the southern Basilan province. The Coast Guard received reports of a fire on board at approximately 23:00 on March 29 and immediately sent at least four patrol boats assisted by other SAR teams.
Passengers reported that they awoke to smoke and a spreading fire in the accommodations area of the vessel. Many reportedly jumped into the sea, some with life jackets. Local fishermen also responded assisting with rescuing people from the water.
The captain of the vessel has reportedly told the Coast Guard that he believes the fire began in the passenger accommodations. He said it spread into the galley and then they believe there were explosions possibly from an LPG tank in the galley.
Built in 1990 in Japan, the vessel is 239 feet long and operated by the Aleson Shipping Line. The company started in the 1970s and reports it currently has a fleet of 25 vessels and “has become the dominant shipping operator in Western Mindanao.” The registry indicates they acquired the vessel in 2011.
The Coast Guard is having a difficult time determining how many people were aboard the ferry, saying that the manifest appears to be incomplete and inaccurate. Officials are insisting the vessel was not overloaded. Some reports are saying there were up to 250 people aboard while the Coast Guard said the manifest showed 240 passengers and crew. Some of the survivors are members of the army and coast guard who however are reportedly not appearing on the manifest. It is believed there were 35 crewmembers.
The wreck has been beached in the southern Philippines (Isabela City-DRRM photo)
Passengers were asleep on the lower deck of the vessel when the fire started. An initial search recovered at least 18 bodies from inside the ship but the Coast Guard is saying some sections are still too hot to enter. The vessel was beached with the Coast Guard cutter extinguishing the fire after about eight hours. Among the dead are reports of a six-month-old child as well as several other children. At least several of the people drowned attempting to escape the ship.
Some of the survivors suffered minor burns and bruises. They have been taken to local hospitals.
The Coast Guard has begun an investigation while continuing the search of the vessel and the surrounding waters.
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