You sea? Every minute matters
Safety is not one piece of equipment. It is not one agency, it is a chain and everyone in that chain has a role to play.
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Safety is not one piece of equipment. It is not one agency, it is a chain and everyone in that chain has a role to play.
Traveling on boats and ships allows us plenty of time for slowing down and appreciating the serene feeling of being in the present moment in the middle of the sea. There’s more space to roam around compared to a plane, with great picturesque island views.
And since there’s usually no signal on board, we get this inexplicable feeling of “life can happen later, I’m still on my way.” It’s a time for reflection and just being in the moment. It’s no wonder many people prefer to travel by sea when they need to do some deep thinking or when problems on land seem to be daunting.
Compared to being on an airplane, the sea is more calming. It’s being on the waves, being cooled off and lulled to sleep while life awaits at your destination. Well, that’s for people who do not take a ship on a regular basis. But for people whose lives depend on the sea, it’s a different story.
I’m talking about the fishermen, the boat operators, the ship captains and crew, the other side of the coin. Every ride is not a guarantee that they’ll be back with their families, especially with the huge waves, storms, and other dangers they face.
That is why the tragedy that befell the MV June Aster is especially painful. In case you haven’t read, the vessel was sailing from Manila to Coron, Palawan, when it caught fire on 9 September.
What began as just another journey across our seas ended in a tragedy that, as of 16 September, has claimed more than 70 lives (the investigation is still ongoing as we write). For the families of those who did not make it home, there are no statistics that can adequately describe the loss. Nobody deserves to die in the middle of a journey.
This is where maritime safety comes in as more than just a technical requirement. It is ultimately about protecting people and giving them every possible chance to reach the other side. And unfortunately, the June Aster is not the first time we have been reminded of how quickly a fire can turn a routine sea journey into an emergency.
In June 2023, the MV Esperanza Star caught fire off Bohol while carrying passengers and crew. Unlike the June Aster tragedy, all 132 people on board were rescued. (Philippine News Agency)
Earlier this year, in February, the MV Maria Felisa caught fire at Lipata Port in Surigao City.
Different vessels, different circumstances, different outcomes. But there is a common lesson here. When something goes wrong at sea there is very little room for delay. Every minute matters.
A fire that may be manageable on land can become a completely different emergency when surrounded by water — smoke can spread quickly as seen in the videos of the fires’ aftermath. Visibility can disappear and, most of the time, the passengers will panic. Think about the weather and waves that can complicate rescue and the situation.
Sometimes, the difference between a close call and a catastrophe can come down to how quickly the right people and the right equipment can respond.
