An official of the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said that the roll on-roll off vessel, M/V Maria Angela, that was stranded at sea with 46 passengers when its engines malfunctioned Thursday, has to undergo a process of checks and tests before it could travel again.

Coast Guard Dumangas detachment commander, Petty Officer Joselito Jarder, said in a telephone interview that the Montenegro Shipping Lines has submitted a report on the incident and their Iloilo station has to decide on it before the vessel could ferry passengers again.

The crew and officers of the ship, either from the Coast Guard or the Maritime Command, need to check on its equipment and facilities before it could be cleared for travel again, he said.

The engines of the vessel broke down near Dumangas at about 11 a.m. Thursday after it left Bacolod at about 8 a.m.

Although M/V Maria Angela was stranded near the Dumangas port and eventually docked there, Jarder said their Iloilo station has the authority to issue directives warning the ship.

In a television interview, Nestor Velasquez, Montenegro Shipping Lines officer-in-charge, assured the public that their vessels are safe for transport.

Two tugboats had to tow the stranded vessel to the Dumangas port about seven hours after its expected arrival.*PP

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