Port Of Cebu News

The Philippines Coast Guard Central Vizayas Action Center reported today three maritime incidents that occurred within their area of responsibility last night, January 15. MV Joyful Star with 237 passengers onboard ran aground yesterday around 11:45 p.m. at the vicinity of Bantolinao Point, Cebu while enroute from Maasin, Leyte to Cebu. Said vessel, with 1097.87 GT, is skippered by Captain Alexander Canete of Roble Shipping Incorporated. The Coast Guard is still transferring passengers of MV Joyful Star using rubber boats to DF 318 and MTug Janggo to Porter Yacht Club, Cebu. Additionally, MV Subic Bay 1, a cargo container vessel, ran aground at the same area at 2:44 a.m. today en route from Nasipit, Butuan to Pier 7, Port of Cebu.

Joint elements of Philippine Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessel (SARV) 002 and MV Asia Pacific successfully rescued 693 passengers of M/V Trans Asia 5 after it encountered engine trouble at the vicinity waters 14 nautical miles southeast of Siquijor Island yesterday, December 16, 2013 at 5 a.m.. Reports reaching the Coast Guard Action Center in Manila revealed that on December 16 at 7:30 a.m., a certain Norman of Magnum Radio station reported to Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao that subject vessel was en route to Port of Cebu from Cagayan de Oro City and was loaded with 677 passengers, 16 crew and five rolling cargoes on board when her driving gear shaft suddenly broke out and subsequently went dead on the water. coastguard.gov.ph

According to an AP report, a ferry reportedly packed with more than 600 peopl sank near the Philippine port of Cebu after it and a cargo vessel collided. The wire service reports that the captain of the ferry MV Thomas Aquinas ordered the ship abandoned after it began listing and then sank after hitting the cargo vessel, citing a coast guard officer source. There was no immediate word on casualties, but passenger Jerwin Agudong told radio station DZBB that some people were trapped and he saw bodies in the water. He reported that the ferry was entering the pier when the cargo vessel, which was on the way out, suddenly collided with the ship.  He said the ferry came from Nasipit in Agusan del Sur province in the southern Philippines on a daylong journey. (Source: AP & Staff)