Dapitan-bound vessel delayed

CEBU, Philippines - A vessel bound for Dapitan City from Cebu City was delayed for about four hours yesterday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nelson Taguba of Coast Guard- Dumaguete Station said the vessel departed very late from Pier 2 in Cebu City because a spare part of the ship, which underwent repair at a machine shop was reportedly delivered late.

Taguba said the spare part, the lube oil pump, was taken to a machine shop earlier that day for repair and they did not anticipate that it would take a longer time for it to get fixed.

Taguba said the vessel, carrying 179 passengers and 50 crew members, was supposed to depart from Pier 2 at 10pm Saturday, but because of the delay, it left the port at 2:30 am. The vessel arrived in Dumaguete City at 8:30 am and proceeded to Dapitan City at 9:30 am. It was originally scheduled to reach Dapitan at 5am.

Taguba denied radio reports that the ship encountered engine trouble.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the vessel pending comment from the shipping company.  (THE FREEMAN)