Nine Missing From Sunken Cargo Ship in Batangas

Philippines Coast Guard search and rescue teams are searching for nine missing crewmembers from the cargo vessel M/V Sea Merchant which sunk approximately five nautical miles southeast of Malabrigo Point in Lobo, Batangas at around 6:45 a.m. January 1.

The missing crewmembers reportedly boarded a life raft, while 11 other crewmembers were rescued by the passing M/T Mactan Island after it has received the distress signal from the sinking vessel.

M/V Sea Merchant was carrying 20,040 bags of cement to Antique from Bauan Port where it loaded 16,000 liters of diesel oil.

Inquiry from Celso Rey Baiza, Chief Officer of M/V Sea Merchant revealed that while the vessel was navigating towards Dumali Point, Oriental Mindoro on January 1 at 2 p.m., it was suddenly battered by large waves and strong winds on her port, causing her cement cargo to shift to the starboard side and then list by 10 degrees. The Master ordered his Chief Mate to arrest the list by shifting the ship’s heading while the engine crew tried to intake ballast water to port when three consecutive big waves continued to batter the ship causing the, to take in more water. M/V Sea Merchant subsequently sank several minutes after the Chief Mate initiated the distress call at 4 p.m.

The distress call was monitored by the Vessel Traffic Management Sytem (VTMS Batangas) and M/T Mactan Island, a tanker vessel plying near the area of incident.

PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena directed SARV-001 (BRP San Juan) to augment in the conduct of the ongoing search and rescue operations.

M/T Mactan Island conducted SAR operations and rescued 11 crewmembers onboard a life raft. PCG rescue teams and M/T Mactan Island are still scouring the vicinity for the possible recovery of the remaining missing crew, including the master of M/V Sea Merchant.