25 injured as vessels collide off Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five persons were injured in a collision involving two vessels in the waters off Cebu on Sunday.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is reportedly planning to suspend the operations of the passenger motor vessel St. Jhudiel and landing craft tank Poseidon 23.

In a text message to The STAR yesterday, Emmanuel Carpio, chief of MARINA-Cebu, said the suspension orders against the St. Jhudiel and Poseidon 23 would be issued “within the day.”

Carpio said that only the operations of the “subject vessels” would be suspended and not their entire fleets.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 25 of 197 passengers of the St. Jhudiel reportedly suffered minor injuries following the incident that occurred at 2:52 p.m. in the waters off Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

The ferry was headed to Cebu City from Ormoc in Leyte, while the landing craft tank had just departed Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City when they figured in the accident.

On board the Poseidon 23 were 20 people and 17 rolling cargoes.

The PCG dispatched a floating asset, land vehicle and an ambulance to assist the injured passengers.

A team from the Marine Environmental Protection Force-Central Visayas was deployed in the area to determine if the collision caused an oil spill.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the St. Jhudiel’s would be subjected to a seaworthiness test as the vessel reportedly developed hydraulic problems last week.

He said the PCG would determine if the vessels observed the traffic separation scheme.

Initial information received by the PCG showed the Poseidon 23 tried to avoid hitting the St. Jhudiel.