Passengers stranded as city-bound ferry suffers engine glitch

A fastcraft ferry got stranded due to engine failure in the seawaters off barangay Heninsulan in San Francisco, Camotes Island while it was on its way to Cebu yesterday morning. The vessel was later towed back to its port of origin without further untoward incident.

Petty Officer 1 Lito Arias, assistant detachment commander of the Poro coastguard said the fastcraft, M/B Golden Express 2, left Poro port around 6 a.m. for Pier 1 in Cebu City.

The small vessel, carrying 92 passengers and seven crew members, was adrift for more than two hours before being spotted by another passing sea vessel from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, the M/B Ave Maria III, which was on its way to Poro.

Earlier reports said one of the ship’s two engines overheated and the heat melted the electrical wires and affected the operation of the ship. The crew, however, was able to prevent more damage to the ship.

Arias said the damaged fastcraft was towed by the M/B Ave Maria III and arrived around 9:05 a.m. in Poro.  The MB Golden Express 2 is owned and operated by Golden Bridge Shipping Inc.

Reports from dyAB said boat captain Melecio Estrera and his crew failed to inform their office immediately as standard operating procedure dictates.

They are still waiting for Estrera to submit a marine protest regarding the incident. – Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP