Safety and Health hazard on the high seas..

Traveling back to Manila last week, our bus was loaded onto a ferry boat in Allen, Samar and sailed to Matnog port in Sorsogon.  The boat was a newly-repainted boat that was owned by the Montenegro Shipping company and the seats were actually newly upholstered as well.  It actually looked nice as a new flat-screen monitor was installed and played movies for the passengers to watch as the ship sailed.

I was able to secure a rather good seat near a window in the forward passenger cabin.  I noticed later as the boat was halfway across the channel that the smell of engine exhaust was getting more and more pronounced.  My seat was actually situated close to a stairwell that led down to the vehicle hold and it was clear from the smell that vehicles down below were the source of the gases.  And my head was starting to ache even though I had taken food and fluids already.

I promptly moved aft to see if I could possibly get some fresh air as the rear was open space.  As I was walking, the smell actually got worse towards the middle of the boat and I could see people asleep (or passed out from the gas!).  The air flow in the middle was worst as this section had few windows for the exhaust fumes to escape or for fresh air to come in.  I saw a stairway that led up to another deck up top (muster section) where people were catching fresh air.

Only after making it to this place that I felt a lot better and my nagging headache went away.  It was clear to me then that I was subjected to a rather high level of carbon monoxide and all those other passengers were exposed to it as well.  I made it a point to ask one of the crew about the matter and he only said that the drivers of the vehicles would choose to stay in their vehicles and keep their engines running for the duration of the voyage.  Inside the comfort of their airconditioned vehicles, they were actually cool and comfortable compared to hot and sweaty in the passenger section.

Thinking about what had happened, I can see two hazards:

1. There was a clear safety hazard as drivers were actually allowed to stay in their vehicles with the engines running.  In the unfortunate event of a ferry sinking, these people would be unable to get to safety as they would be trapped in the vehicle hold and barely have enough time to make it to the passenger section where the lifeboats are located.
2. There was a clear health hazard as the exhaust gases from the running vehicles reached the passenger section.  Many of the people didn't even know that they were being exposed to dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide.  Some of them probably went to sleep thinking that it was just the heat that made them dizzy.  

Both hazards need to be addressed ASAP.  The Philippine Coast Guard should not wait for someone to die on these boats before taking action.  Unless of course they're intentionally turning a blind eye to this..  I also don't think that this problem is happening only to boats run by Montenegro Shipping but to just about all the ferry boats in this country. And honestly, it has to stop!