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Cebu City, Philippines – Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) confirmed Tuesday that it sold two passenger vessels to Cebu-based Roble Shipping Lines last week and plans to sell another for scrap.
However, SLI Cebu port captain Nestor Ponteres said the MV Cebu Princess and the MV Cagayan Princess were small, ro-ro vessels, while the third, MV Palawan Princess, was no longer seaworthy.
With a 1,100 gross tonnage, MV Cebu Princess was used to transport the remains of the MV Princess of the Stars passengers from Romblon to Cebu in June. The MV Cagayan Princess has a gross tonnage of below 1,000.
Ponteres said the sale of the two vessels does not mean the company is going bankrupt since SLI still has 18 other cargo and passenger vessels in its fleet.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) suspended the operation of all SLI passenger vessels and recently allowed the operation of the company's cargo ships.
He also said displaced crews will be absorbed to other vessels.
For those who would opt to get payment, he said only those employed for more than 10 years will be given under their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Joy Roble, vice president for operations of Roble Shipping Lines, confirmed on Tuesday that they bought MV Cebu Princess and MV Cagayan Princess for P33 million last Wednesday.
“Ro-ro vessels can easily unload cargoes, rain or shine,” Roble said.
He said negotiations resulted in a gentleman's agreement on September 18 and the company paid SLI on October 8. /Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan
