Ship gets stranded for 10 hours off Ozamiz

CEBU, Philippines - A passenger vessel carrying over 50 passengers was stranded for 10 hours several meters away from the shorelines of Ozamiz City yesterday.

Butuan Bay I of Gothong Shipping Lines was stranded from past 8 a.m. yesterday until it was rescued past 6 p.m.

Petty Officer I Medardo de Guzman told The FREEMAN that the passenger vessel departed from the port of Ozamiz City at 8 a.m. yesterday and was supposed to arrive in Iligan City by 9 a.m.

However, de Guzman said, that the vessel went still several meters away from the coastal areas of Ozamiz City because of generator problem, according to the initial report he received.

Gothong Shipping Lines lawyer Francisco Mijares said on the other hand that the vessel got stranded when “fuel and seawaters suddenly mixed.”

De Guzman said that they will demand an explanation letter from the skipper of the vessel, as to what had really happened, while the vessel was docked in the port of Iligan City past 6 p.m. yesterday.

He said that all the passengers were safe and being accounted after the incident.

Meanwhile, a motor banca rented by six foreign tourists for island-hopping, sank off Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte last Tuesday morning because of huge waves brought about by tropical depression Urduja.

Lt. Michell Ursabia, public information officer of Coastguard-Central and Eastern Visayas District, said that the banca named “Lady Coco” sailed despite the bad weather condition all the way from Guindulman, Bohol.

The rescued passengers were Gabi Girr, Marcus Coirman, Patrick Fihrenz, and Corinne Fihrenz - all German nationals; and Thomas Burgi, a Swiss national. Also rescued were Reynaldo Rosales, the boat’s captain; and members of the crew identified as Gabriel Nialan, Daniel Logronio; and Emmanuel, Jasper and Dennis, all surnamed Olivar.

Ursabia said that an operator of a beach resort in Bohol owns the banca. When the motor vehicle reached Limasawa Island, it capsized when an outrigger was ripped apart after it was hit by big waves.

Coastguard personnel arrived in the area and found out that the victims were already on a rubber boat given to them by the crew of two other motor bancas which happened to pass by in the area.

Ursabia said that aside from the said incident, there was no other sea mishap reported at the height of tropical depression Urduja.

Vessels in the Visayas, including here in Cebu but excluding in Southern Leyte, were back to their normal operations since yesterday morning after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration lifted storm signal number 1.

In the port of Maasin, Southern Leyte, almost 300 passengers were stranded after five ships were not allowed to sail because of the weather disturbance. –/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)