One roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel bound for Cawayan, Masbate province ran aground at the Bogo Channel in Bogo City, northern Cebu at 1:45 a.m. yesterday.
Agapito Bibat, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu Station commander, said the ship captain of LCT Melrivic I, Rolando dela Cruz, miscalculated the area, resulting to the accident.
“The Bogo Channel is like a chicken’s intestine. Ang daming liko-liko (So many twists and turns),” Bibat told Cebu Daily News. The vessel is owned by Aznar Shipping Corp.
Bibat said he ordered Dela Cruz to submit a marine protest to explain the incident.
All 100 passengers on board were safe along with six 10-wheeler trucks and rolling cargoes.
A motorbanca named Christopher 4 was used to rescue the passengers onboard. Coast Guard records showed there were 90 adults, six children and four infants on board the vessel. All passengers returned at Polambato Wharf in Bogo City at 4:20 a.m. yesterday.
Refunds were given to the passengers since the vessel was not allowed to sail for further inspection by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
In Bohol province, a motorbanca capsized offshore in Barangay Butan, Carlos P. Garcia yesterday morning.
Commander Rey Enario, Coast Guard substation commander for Ubay, Bohol, said there were 68 passengers rescued when motorbanca Renel Cruiser capsized after hitting a floating bamboo piece.
“All passengers were safe. No signs of overloading and there were life vests used. It was also not colorum. What happened was an accident,” Enario said.
The capsized motorbanca left Looc, Mandaue City at 8 a.m. bound for Butuan. The skipper is identified as Captain Matronilio Balani.
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