Passengers of MV Joyful Star await to disembark the navy ship after they were rescued (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
A passenger vessel and a cargo ship were stranded along Mactan channel Thursday dawn.
The MV Joyful Stars 1 of Roble Shipping Lines left Maasin, Leyte at 11:21 p.m. last Wednesday when it ran aground along the breakwater while approaching Bantulinaw lighthouse in Mactan Channel at 4 a.m.
At 12:44 a.m. the cargo vessel MV Subic Bay 1 also ran aground within the vicinity after it left Nasipit at 2:31 p.m. last Wednesday.
A rescue operation for the 237 passengers of MV Joyful Stars is still ongoing. In a radio interview with the passengers, most of them said they came to Cebu to celebrate the Sinulog over the weekend.
“We were sleeping when we heard the boat ran aground and everyone panicked. People were running around thinking we were sinking,” a rescued passenger said.
The passengers had to line up to ride a rescue boat of the Philippine Coast Guard who only sent aluminum and rubber vessels since larger boats couldn’t get near the stranded vessels.
The Coast Guard said strong winds and large waves caused the two vessels to run aground.
Rescue efforts for the 51 crew of the cargo vessel of Gothong Shipping Lines MV Subic Bay 1 will follow after all passengers of MV Joyful Stars are secured.
The Coast Guard said it is awaiting the marine protest from the captains of the two stranded vessels.