The fast craft vessel involved in the Bredco port collision last Wednesday evening will be dry docked in order to repair damages.

In a radio interview yesterday morning, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Bacolod Development Officer, Engr. Jose Ramilo Sumague, said officials from Ocean Fast Ferries, Inc. decided to send M/V Ocean Jet 7 back to its homeport of Cebu City.

Sumague said, before the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) can release the vessel, they still have to secure a special permit to navigate at the Marina-Region 7 office.

He also confirmed Marina-Region 7 is awaiting reports from Captain Sergio Alcibar explaining why and how the collision happened.

Due to the incident, Ocean Fast Ferry operations between Bacolod City and Iloilo City were reduced to four trips a day.

Earlier, PCG-Bacolod station commander, Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, said Alcibar failed to inform passengers of impending impact, which could lead to disciplinary action, including suspension, revocation of his license, or a fine from Marina depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Around 40 people were hospitalized following the incident, although all the injured passengers were later discharged after receiving treatment and were refunded by the ferry operator.

Investigators blamed a malfunctioning throttle control as the cause of the incident.

Ocean Jet 7 was previously involved in the same exact accident at the Bredco port in September of last year, which resulted in 15 injuries./DGB, WDJ