Vessel conks out, all passengers safe

CEBU, Philippines - A passenger vessel from Pilar town in Camotes Islands has experienced engine trouble Saturday morning about 5.4 nautical miles away from Ormoc City port.

All 99 passengers and 17 crewmembers of MV Mika Mari V of Jomalia Shipping Lines were safely transferred to a fast craft operated by its sister company.

The passengers arrived at the Ormoc City port on board Oceanjet 3 at 11 a.m. yesterday. MV Mika Mari V was also towed by a tugboat and reached Ormoc port shortly before noon.

The vessel left Pilar at about 7:30 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Ormoc at 9 a.m.

 Romeo Danganan, manager of Jomalia Shipping, confirmed over dyLA that their vessel developed problems few minutes before it was supposed to dock at Ormoc City port.

Danganan, however, said that Oceanjet 3 was immediately dispatched to help the stranded passengers. The rescue vessel arrived 30 minutes after the distress call.

Danganan said no one was hurt and passengers were all given breakfast before they were transferred to Oceanjet 3. According to Danganan, the ship captain could not explain why the engine conked out in the middle of the voyage.

He identified the captain as Roger Capin, who was already ordered by Coast Guard to submit his marine protest.

Danganan said the vessel’s engine was in good condition. He believes that the problem may have been caused by its propeller since the vessel ran aground in Pilar port few days after it started operation last month.

Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez earlier asked Jomalia Shipping to operate in his town to address the problem of lack of transportation after all passenger motorboats were grounded following the July 2 MB Kim Nirvana incident in which 61 people died.— /FPL (FREEMAN)