THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) ordered targeted fire safety inspections on the remaining active ships of Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. following a vessel blaze off Coron, Palawan.
Specialized inspectors are evaluating the MV Star San Carlos and the MV October Lavender. The audit team tests onboard firefighting systems, equipment adequacy, and crew emergency response capabilities. Marina requires the shipping line to resolve all identified technical deficiencies before receiving port clearances.
These fleet inspections coincide with an ongoing joint investigation by Marina and the Philippine Coast Guard into the MV June Aster incident. Authorities suspended the licenses of the MV June Aster crew members while investigators collect official testimonies from survivors and ship personnel.
Marina established an assistance desk at the Coron Municipal Hall, and the shipping company provides support to affected passengers.
The temporary grounding and inspection of active Atienza vessels threaten to disrupt passenger traffic and cargo logistics along the critical Manila–Palawan shipping corridor. Industry observers note that these targeted audits signal a permanent shift toward mandatory dynamic safety evaluations across the entire domestic transit sector.
Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan stresses that true vessel safety requires proven operational capability rather than simple document compliance. The regulatory agency enforces these targeted audits under Marina Advisory 2026-04 to guarantee fleet-wide passenger safety. Marina will publish its initial investigative findings in the coming days.
