Typhoon Inday Halts Sea Travel in Mindoro, Batangas, and Other Ports

Passenger sea travel between Batangas and several ports in Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan and Western Visayas remained suspended on Friday morning after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) enforced a no-sail policy due to Typhoon Inday. In its 8 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) clarified that it does not directly supervise voyages, but trips are automatically cancelled once a no-sail directive is issued. Shipping companies may also cancel voyages in accordance with the terms of their Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). Among the affected routes from the Port Management Office (PMO) Batangas were trips through Batangas-Calapan, Batangas-Abra de Ilog, Batangas-Puerto Galera, Batangas-Odiongan, Batangas-Caticlan, Batangas-Roxas City, Culasi, Sibuyan and other Romblon-bound trips operated by Starlite Ferries, Montenegro Shipping Lines, Island Water, Lite Ferries, 2GO and Galerian. In Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, all fast craft and Starlite ferry trips between Calapan and Batangas were also suspended. Authorities also canceled all trips at the ports of Puerto Galera, Roxas and San Jose, while departures from Bulalacao to Caticlan and scheduled sailings from Abra de Ilog to Batangas were likewise affected. In Lubang, sea travel remained suspended under a no-sail policy imposed by the local government. Outside Mindoro, several voyages in Palawan were also canceled, including Coron-El Nido routes and all trips from El Nido. Also canceled were trips involving vessels of 250 gross tons and below operating from Culion. The suspensions stranded hundreds of passengers and delayed cargo movement as Inday enhanced rough sea conditions. Port authorities advised travelers to coordinate with their shipping companies and monitor official advisories from the PPA, PCG, and local government units before proceeding to ports.