The Coast Guard is initially eyeing the “human error” angle in its investigation into the collision between two veseels off the coast of Cavite Thursday. At least three people died and 24 others remain missing in the sea tragedy. Rescuers continued to search Friday for possible survivors and bodies from the passenger ferry Catalyn B, which collided with the fishing boat Natalya Thursday dawn. The Coast Guard noted that the sea was calm and the ferry had only 74 passengers, far below its full capacity of 126 The Catalyn B, a woodenhulled ferry was bound for Mindoro when it collided with the fishing vessel Natalya bound for Navotas from the North Harbor in Manila. Coast Guard-Metro Manila chief Commodore Luis Tuason Jr. will head the investigation that will initialy focus on “human error,” among others, said Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo Friday. Survivors interviewed by the Coast Guard said the collision of Catalyn B, with 15 crewmembers and 59 passengers, and the fishing vessel Natalya four nautical miles off Limbones Island surprised even the crew manning the vessels. They told the Coast Guard that the vessels failed to warn one another until the tragedy happened. Reports Thursday said four died in the accident but the National Disaster Coordinating Council Friday identified only three fatalities - Beverly Cabinillo, 34; Relly Morales, 71; and Welmar Tanayan, whose age was placed between 22 and 27. As it resumed search-and-rescue operations Friday, the Coast Guard started preparing for a full investigation into the dawn maritime accident. “Once we account for the passengers and end the search operations, we will start the investigation. We will determine who was at fault for the accident,” Tamayo said in an interview with reprters. Tamayo ordered a Special Board of Marine Inquiry to handle the investigation and gave the crew of both vessels 48 hours after the incident - or early Saturday - to submit their marine protests, or accounts ofwhat happened.
