ANOTHER vessel of Trans-Asia Shipping experienced engine trouble as it left Iloilo City for Cebu City at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
MV Trans-Asia 2 was already within the vicinity off Siete Pecados Island of Dumangas, Iloilo City or around 10 nautical miles from the Iloilo City port when one of its two engines malfunctioned.
Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Agapito Bibat said they received a report on the incident at 8 pm so they ordered the vessel’s captain to return to the Iloilo City.
“Mas maayo pa’ng mobalik sila kaysa mopadayon unya mas delikado na hinoon kon maguba ang laing makina, gabii pa gyod (it’s better for them to return rather than continue and it’s more dangerous if another engine malfunctioned and it’s night by then),” he said.
Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo City deputy commander Petty Officer Leo Olmos said Trans-Asia 2 returned to port at 10:30 p.m.
The vessel carried 559 passengers and 48 officers and crew and left the Iloilo City port at 6 pm bound for Cebu City. It was supposed to arrive in Cebu City at 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Upon returning to the Iloilo City port, some passengers decided to get a refund from the shipping company. The passengers may transfer to Cokaliong vessel which is set to depart at 7 pm tonight for Cebu City, Olmos said.
The captain of Trans Asia 2, Lynnielo Tiongson, is expected to submit marine protest before the Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo City Station later today.