2 ships sink off Catanduanes, Antique; all crewmen safe

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday all 14 crewmembers of a Panamanian vessel which capsized off Catanduanes last Saturday have been rescued.

In another incident, 18 Filipino crewmembers were safe after their cargo vessel loaded with cement sank off Antique yesterday morning.

PCG commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag said the Panamanian ship M/V Sun Spirit, with two Koreans and 12 Indonesians onboard, listed 34 nautical miles off Binorong Point in Catanduanes last Saturday.

The PCG-Western Visayas district got the report on the M/V Sun Spirit at around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente said.

Ricafrente said Coast Guard Action Center immediately dispatched Notice to Mariners (NOTAM) to all vessels transiting the area to be on the lookout and render necessary assistance to M/V Sun Spirit.

The PCG also deployed MCS 3001 and a helicopter and placed its other vessels on standby for possible dispatch. The Philippine Navy vessel PG 141, meanwhile, was also sent to assist in the search and rescue operations.

Ricafrente said 11 crewmembers were rescued by a passing vessel, M/V Oriental Sana 2, while three others were saved by a fishing boat.

The 7,104-gross tonnage vessel, loaded with iron sand, was bound from MacArthur, San Pedro, Leyte to China.

Meanwhile, Ricafrente said the PCG station in Antique reported that M/V Seaford 2 was on its way to Culasi, Antique from Iligan City when water started entering it through a hole in its hull at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

The vessel, owned by Seaford Shipping Lines, was reportedly carrying 35,000 bags of cement and 9,000 liters of diesel fuel. – With Celso Amo, Cet Dematera