PCG: 3 vessels run aground in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Three vessels with at least 388 passengers and crew on board were stranded after the ships ran aground in shallow waters off Cebu and Bohol, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said they received separate reports on three maritime accidents involving the M/V Joyful Star, M/V Subic Bay 1, and M/V Our Lady of All Nations.

“We have so far only received initial information about the three vessel grounding incidents. At the moment we could not confirm if these were caused by the low-pressure area but we have requested the vessels’ skippers to submit their marine reports to know what happened,” Balilo said.

He added the Coast Guard deployed the BRP EDSA and a patrol craft to monitor and look for signs of oil spill in the area.

The 1,097.87-gross ton Joyful Star with 237 passengers onboard ran aground last Jan. 15 at 11:45 p.m. at the vicinity of Bantolinao Point, Cebu while en route from Maasin, Leyte to Cebu. Robles Shipping Inc. owns the ship, with Alexander Cañete as its captain.

The passengers were transferred off ship and brought to the Porter Yacht Club in Cebu.

Balilo said the vessel was waiting for the noontime high tide yesterday to free itself from where it ran aground.

The 592-gross ton passenger ship Our Lady Of All Nations, with 90 passengers, also ran aground at 2 a.m. yesterday near Danajon Bank, Bohol while en route from Leyte to Cebu.

The ferry is owned by Medallion Transport Inc.

The vessel’s skipper Samuel Fael made arrangements with the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. to remove the ship from the shallow waters.

The cargo vessel Subic Bay 1, on the other hand, ran aground at 2:44 a.m. yesterday at Bantolinao Point, Cebu.

The vessel reportedly came from Cebu and was on its way to Nasipit, Butuan when it hit shallow waters.

The Subic Bay 1 is owned and operated by Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc.

At the time of the incident, there were reportedly 61 officers and crew onboard. The ship is skippered by Mariano Villarias.

As of press time, it was still waiting for the company motor tug to extract it from the shallow waters.