The cargo vessel of the Cebu Sea Charterer Inc. that sank off Camiguin Island last Friday evening was retrieved by tug boats yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard Bohol station said.
“The cargo of the LCT 378 sank (which included fuel stocks) but the vessel was recovered by the tug boats,” said Lt. Robinson Madriaga, PCG Bohol station commander.
Madriaga confirmed that the 26 crew members were still in their PCG station in Dapitan City, Misamis Oriental. He said Coast Guard personnel are monitoring the area for any oil spill but have so far not detected any signs. The cargo vessel was loaded with 3,150 metric tons of limestone when it left Bohol and headed for Cagayan de Oro City, but it sank due to strong winds and big waves.
Gale warning
The crew was saved by a Singaporean cargo vessel, the M/V Ton Ying, which was headed for Ozamis City to deliver limestone and passed by the area.
Madriaga said the LCT 378 sent a distress call at 7 p.m. Friday. The LCT 378 captain, Edilberto Jugarap Sr., ordered his crew to board two life rafts before the vessel sank.
“The ship was unable to maneuver due to the big waves, that’s why Jugarap ordered the crew to abandon ship,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said they didn’t cancel trips in all ports of Bohol and the Visayas since there were no gale warnings sent by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Association (Pagasa).