Hundreds are lost after ferry capsizes in typhoon

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Title – Hundreds are lost after ferry capsizes in typhoon
Source – The Times
Date – 23rd June 2008

Ferry travel remains the most popular form of transport for local people around the 7107 islands of the Philippines. The ferry service networks are extensive and as the cost of oil continues to rise and with it the cost of flying, ferries are set to become even more popular and therefore busier.

It would be easy to simply write that ferries in the Philippines should be avoided at all costs; ferry disasters are a regular occurrence in the Philippines and few would bet against further disasters in the future. The factors vary; poor maintenance; over-capacity; old vessels; terrorism; and as in this case the weather, especially the typhoon season. But it would be irresponsible also not to mention that the situation has certainly got better in the past decade and although the catalogue of disasters seems not to be greatly diminished since the world’s worst peace-time maritime disaster took place in the Philippines in 1987 with the loss of the Dona Paz sank with the loss of more than 4300 lives (1988 - 250-300 died when the Dona Marilyn sank; 1994 – 140 died when the Cebu city ferry was hit by a freighter; 1998 – 150-200 died when the Princess of the Orient ferry sank; 2004 – 116 died when the Superferry 14 caught fire, Abu Sayyaf claimed they had planted a bomb) it has to be put in some kind of context. Firstly the vast number of people using the ferry service every year and the vast number of ferries in service; secondly the common assumptions we make that all ferries are overcrowded certainly does not seem to be the case on this occasion, where although the numbers are disputed even the higher number of 845 is well below the official capacity of the MV Princess which was 1992.

The Philippines suffers almost every year from typhoons and extreme weather systems and although normally confined to June to November, they can strike at other times of year as well. In May 2006 while travelling through the Philippines, I found myself on Malpascua Island as the weather closed in. Due to a complete lack of information available on an island where electricity is only available sporadically, I had no idea that the rain that was slowly getting heavier was actually the start of a typhoon. With the rain ruining the visibility, the diving for Thresher sharks was no longer possible, I decided to go back to the ‘mainland’ of Cebu. What I didn’t know was that this Typhoon was catching us up. We were not on a ferry, but a small local boat. The 45 minute trip across the sea was the most terrifying boat trip of my life. 20 minutes in it was clear that this was more than heavy rain, turning back was not an option and going forward was just terrifying. It really was all hands on deck; tie down everything that moves, that might be washed away, more importantly that might fly around and hit one of the 5 crew or 4 passengers or worse knock them overboard. The most important thing, we all donned our lifejackets. The worst sign in such circumstances and the one that confirms exactly how serious and precarious the situation is, is when the Philippine crew don their life jackets. These guys are the ultimate seafarers, fearless, jovial and at one with the open ocean. I have never held on to anything in my life so tightly as the rail of that boat. Even the coastguard chastising us when we arrived in Cebu was a joyous experience, I would happily have spent time in a Philippine gaol had they decided to follow through with their threats against the crew for setting off in those conditions, because the sense of relief was so significant. If ever proof was needed as to how lucky we were, then the devastation, the downed trees, missing roves, floods and strewn debris all around us the following day confirmed it.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop provides you with the vital information you need when you are travelling. Through our Destination Advice we examine not only the political, criminal and health risks of your destination(s), but also the environmental risks and weather patterns. Avoiding typhoon, rainy and monsoon seasons as well as the extreme hot and cold seasons can make or break your trip. We also look at dynamic risk assessment and Transport Options while you are travelling. Understanding what to look out for and most importantly knowing and having the courage to change your plans when you see a perceived risk no matter what others tell you, will help to keep you safe on your travels.

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