Fastcraft runs aground off Talisay

Coast guard dispatches rescue teams to bring 160 passengers to safety

Rescue operations were mounted last night to bring at least 160 passengers to safety after a fastcraft ran aground at Lauis Ledge in Talisay City in southern Cebu.

Commo. William Melad, commander of the Central Visayas coast guard district, identified the vessel as M/V Weesam Express 7 which was bound for the port of Cebu from Ormoc.

He said it was possible that strong waves pushed the vessel to a shallow portion of Lauis Ledge causing it to run aground at around 6:40 p.m.

Lauis Ledge is the same spot where a ferry and a cargo ship collided in August last year which resulted in the death of at least 116 people.

The master of the Weesam 7, Cesar Arenio, was directed to file a marine protest with the coast guard.

“I still need to wait for the marine protest that will be submitted by the ship captain (to determine) what was really the cause why it ran aground,” Melad told Cebu Daily News.

Melad said he also wants to find out why Weesam 7 passed through Lauis Ledge when its normal sea route was for it to pass through the north-bound lane of the Mactan Channel.

“The vessel should have passed through north-bound of the Mactan Channel. What usually passes along Lauis, Ledge are vessels from Tagbilaran (Bohol),” he said.

A coast guard patrol and a special operations unit on board a rubber boat were dispatched to the ill-fated vessel. M/V Weesam Express 8 was also diverted to the area to help in the rescue efforts.

“We will do our best that before the night ends, all passengers will be rescued,” Melad added.