Ro-ro ship loses power while at sea

MANILA, Philippines - Tension gripped the 190 passengers of a roll on-roll off (ro-ro) vessel after the ship lost its power while sailing toward Calapan in Occidental Mindoro before noon yesterday.

Lt. Cmdr. Joselito Maluyo, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Calapan station, said as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the M/V Starlight Polaris was still being towed by the M/T Kahunari to the port of Calapan.

PCG spokesman Armand Balilo said the Starlight Polaris, which came from the Batangas port, was already at 1.5 nautical miles from the Calapan port when it developed engine trouble at 11 a.m. 

Maluyo said that they have yet to determine the cause of the trouble. All the passengers are safe, he added.