Coast Guard: Roro fire was accidental

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here reported yesterday that the fire which broke out from the engine room of Millennium Uno roll on roll off (Roro) vessel at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port last Friday was caused by an ignition from welding sparks.

Liutenant Rockcliff Buling, PCG-Negros Occidental head, said three engineering crew members noticed smoke near the panel board after they shut down the generator when they finished doing the welding.

“Yung spark from the welding yun yung nag cause ng fire,” he added.

Though no passengers and crew members were harmed when it happened, the vessel was not allowed to travel.

Buling said the vessel is still suspended to travel until the management can repair the ship.

But he stressed that there was no violation committed.

“It was just an accident and automatically, a suspension will follow pag may nangyaring incident,” he said, adding that the management also has no liability because it did not cause pollution to the marine environment and there was no loss of life.

He said the management has yet to declare the estimated cost of damage in the fire.