A passenger vessel yesterday arrived at the Cebu port after encountering engine trouble at sea off Oroquieta City last Sunday night.
The starboard engine of Trans-Asia 2 owned by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. experienced trouble as it left Ozamis City for Cebu City, said the Coast Guard.
“The master decided to proceed with their voyage. When this kind of situation happens in the middle of the sea, it’s the ship captain who decides whether to proceed or go back,” said Commander Weniel Azcuna, chief of staff of the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas (PCG-7).
A passing vessel, MV Filipinas Iligan on the way from Ozamis to Cebu, observed the ship stalled in the water and overtook it past 10 p.m.
All 279 passengers of Trans-Asia 2 arrived safely as the vessel docked at 10 a.m. yesterday.
The ship has 58 officers and crew under ship captain Norman Robles.
Coast Guard personnel inspected the vessel and interviewed Robles about the incident.
“The vessel needs to undergo inspection by the Maritime Industry Authority while Robles is directed to file a marine protest,” Azcuna told reporters yesterday.