2 ships collide off Cebu

MANILA, Philippines – While the nation is still reeling from the ferry disaster at the height of typhoon “Frank,” a passenger-cargo ship and a foreign container vessel collided off Liloan, Cebu yesterday morning although no deaths or injuries were reported.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately ordered an investigation into the collision of MV Wonderful Star that was carrying more than 600 passengers and the container vessel MCCZ.

Both ships only had minor damages.

Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said their top official in Cebu, Commodore Edmund Tan, gave the order to probe the incident that while not fatal, still placed lives and property at risk.

“From the investigation we would be able to find out what happened and to recommend proper sanctions. One possible sanction could be negligence. The collision could have been caused by human error since there was no bad weather reported in the area at the time of the incident,” Balilo said.

Initial information gathered by the Coast Guard headquarters in Manila showed that at around 1:20 a.m. yesterday their office received information through their very high frequency (VHF) radio from MCCZ second mate Carlos Dongor that the two ships collided in the waters of Liloan.

The Coast Guard said the two ships were only slightly damaged. The passenger and cargo ship scratched the starboard bow (right front side) of the foreign vessel MCCZ, while only the catwalk railings of Wonderful Star were damaged. – Evelyn Macairan