Rescued crew members of MV Meridian Tres talks about their ordeal after they were rescued by crew members of MV Filipinas Butuan. They are set to arrive in Cebu on Thursday morning. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CHESTER COKALIONG)
BATO, Leyte-One crew member remained missing while 28 others were rescued when a cargo vessel sank in the waters near Dawahon Island between the provinces of Bohol and Leyte on Tuesday night.
The survivors were rescued from the life rafts after they abandoned their ship, steel-hulled MV Meridian Tres, as it was listing on its portside before it finally sank about 9 p.m.
They were brought to the Coast Guard station in Cebu City on Wednesday morning.
Rescue operations were still ongoing for Benjamin Orola, crane operator, who remained missing.
MV Meridian Tres, of Manila-based Meridian Cargoes Forwarder, was heading to Tacloban City in Leyte from Cebu City on Tuesday to deliver their cargoes.
List of the crew members of MV Meridian Tres. (ROBERT DEJON)
According to Coast Guard Eastern Visayas chief, Capt. Gregorio Adel, a personnel from the Coast Guard sub-station in Hilongos town, Leyte, was informed by the crew of MV Larcon Iloilo about receiving a distress call from MV Meridian captain, Napoleon Emphasis that vessel was listing on the portside.
The vessel lost its balance following the collapse of its stockpile of 160 20-footer containers and 5 units 10-footers containers loaded with assorted goods.
Adel said all nearby Coast Guard stations were immediately alerted for possible rescue operations.
About 9 p.m., he added he was informed by Maasin Coast Guard Station that Emphasis ordered his crew to abandon the 2,528-gross tonnage vessel.
has ordered the abandoned ship.
Fortunately, crew members of three other vessels that were near the area responded to the distress call and helped rescue the Meridian crew members.
These were LCT-PMI-8, MV Filipinas Butuan and MV Ocean Kingdom.
In a statement sent to Cebu Daily News, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc. founder and chief executive officer Chester Cokaliong said the crew members who were rescued by their vessel MV Filipinas Butuan will arrive in Cebu at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.