Maritime incident in Sorsogon leaves no casualties

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, July 31 – Passengers of M/V Angela considered themselves still blessed and lucky when they were safely rescued by local authorities here following transmission trouble encountered by the marine vessel where they were ferried.

In a report forwarded by Philippine Coast Guard Station Sorsogon to PIA, on July 29, 2012 at 6:30 PM, M/V Angela skippered by Capt. Erickson Garing with 371.53 Gross Tons (GT), 176.18 Net Tons (NT) loaded with 232 persons on board, three (3) Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) Bus, one (1) forward vehicle and one (1) L-300 van, encountered transmission trouble while preparing for docking maneuver more or less 500 meters of Pilar Port in Pilar, Sorsogon.

Said vessel is owned and operated by Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. with business address at Abacan Subdivision, Calicanto, Batangas City.

“At 10:30 PM of the same date, operation manager of Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. Capt Mariano Masangkay informed Coast Guard Detachment Pilar that the vessel’s transmission problem was already fixed, however, Capt. Garing decided to stay at their present position and wait for sea condition to calm before proceeding to Pilar port for docking,” report said.

The next day at 5:15 AM, Coast Guard Detachment Pilar received report from Capt. Garing, that they were dragged by strong winds and big waves and declared vessel aground vicinity more or less 6oo meters shoreline off Pilar Bay in Pilar, Sorsogon.

“Immediately after the information, Coast Guard detachment Pilar requested assistance to LGU-Pilar, Pilar PNP, Phil. Army and Municipal Health Office of Pilar to provide one (1) ambulance on standby to render immediate rescue operation to M/V Angela and transfer stranded passengers onboard using Pilar-LGU watercraft and small outriggered motor bancas going to Pilar port for safety leaving no casualty/injured.”, says PCG Sorsogon station report.

PCG Sorsogon advised Capt. Garing to file marine protest while said vessel was detained in Pilar port until investigation and further inspection is conducted.

Meanwhile, as of 8:00AM, July 31, 2012, 82 stranded passengers were noted in Bulan; 290 passengers, 12 trucks, five buses, three cars and one RoRo vessel were stranded in Pilar; while no strandees were recorded in Matnog.

PCG Sorsogon also maintains its call to fisher folks, operators of small crafts and marine vessels to refrain from going to sea at this time that a Gale warning is hoisted to avoid accidents and other untoward maritime incidences. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)