1 hurt in another ship collision in Talisay

THE chief engineer of a fastcraft fell into the sea and lost consciousness after his vessel collided with a cargo boat in Lawis Ledge, Talisay City before sundown yesterday.

MV Starcraft 9 and MV Our Lady of Faith collided near the Lawis Ledge about 5:50 p.m., said Cebu Coastguard Commander Weniel Azcuna.

The fastcraft was carrying 260 passengers and 16 crew members. It left Pier 3 in Cebu City at about 5:30 p.m. and was bound for Tubigon, Bohol.

The cargo vessel was loaded with 1, 520 metric tons of cement from a factory in the City of Naga and was bound for Bacolod City.

Azcuna said an ambulance waiting at Pier 3 brought Starcraft chief engineer Romeo Astillero to the Chong Hua Hospital for treatment.

“He was safely recovered and was immediately brought to the hospital upon arrival of Starcraft 9 at Pier 3 at 6:15 pm,” the Coast Guard report stated.

Astillero was at the back portion of the fastcraft when the collision happened.

Azcuna said he expected captain Roman Pialagro of Starcraft 9 and captain Jose Adaptar of the cargo vessel to submit their marine protests today so the incident could be investigated.

“It is still too early to say who is at fault,” said Azcuna. The erring ship captain stands to lose his license, he said.

An initial report reaching the Coastguard said the two vessels were traveling on opposite directions. These collided upon reaching the vicinity of Lawis near the Talisay City lighthouse about 5:50 p.m.

Starcraft 9 sustained bended structures on its forward portion. The passengers were traumatized.

“They were traumatized but most of them opted to continue their trips. They transferred to Starcraft 7 which left for Tubigon at past 8 p.m.,” Azcuna said.

The MV Our Lady of Faith proceeded to Tayud, Consolacion to anchor. It did not sustain significant damage. All the crew members were safe.

Azcuna said he ordered his men to proceed to Consolacion to check on the real condition of the vessel.

Azcuna said Lawis Ledge is accident-prone because it is a “very busy  area” that is used by both inbound and outbound vessels.

More than a hundred people were feared dead when passenger vessel MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with cargo vessel MV Sulpicio Express Siete in Lawis Ledge in August 2013.

Azcuna said the Cebu coastguard is now working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to come up with a traffic monitoring system that would improve the flow of vessels in the area.

Azcuna said they were just finishing documentary requirements so the project could already start.