Damaged propeller strands ship

CEBU, Philippines - More than 400 passengers aboard M/V Don Martin Sr. 8 were stranded off the vicinity of Larena, Siquijor Thursday night.

This after the vessel’s propeller suffered a malfunction while at the vicinity of Laze Bay around 4:20 p.m. rendering it unable to reverse.

The captain decided to drop anchor to immediately conduct remedial measures less than a nautical mile from the Port of Larena.

Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas information officer Anelito Gabisan said that the derangement of the propeller could have caused serious harm to the vessel and port of its destination if the captain has insisted to dock.

Gabisan said the controllable pitch propeller of the ship controls the forward and backward motion of the ship for docking.

The 668-gross ton M/V Don Martin, owned and operated by Palacio Shipping Lines Inc., had 392 passengers and 25 officers and crew when it departed from Port of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, Thursday noon.

Around 6 a.m. yesterday, some of the passengers insisted to disembark with the help of some motorized bancas in the area.

 They were also assisted by Coast Guard Detachment Larena and Coast Guard Station Dumaguete.

All passengers 187 bound for Larena were safely transferred from the vessel by 8 a.m.

There were no reports of casualties or injuries. The shipping company has sent a team from Cebu to bring the spare parts needed for the repair.

Gabisan said that Palacio Shipping Lines Inc. advised them that M/V Don Martin’s sister ship will go to the area to transfer the passengers bound for Tagbilaran and Cebu.

The stranded passengers were allegedly provided with food and other necessities while waiting on the ship. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)