Fast craft returns to port after prop trouble

ALL 77 passengers and crews of a fast craft which experienced propeller trouble were all safe and sound after the vessel, bound for its last trip from Bacolod to Iloilo, returned to Bredco Port, Bacolod City last Tuesday.

Frank Carbon, manager of Weesam Express, said that one of their fast crafts, Weesam I, stopped its engine five minutes after its departure from the BREDCO Port en route to Iloilo when some ropes used to tie the vessel to the pier got entangled in its propeller.

He said that the ship’s captain, Roel Dresus, fortunately detected the trouble at the ship's propeller so they were able to address the problem and to safely transfer all the passengers to another boat Weesam 3.

When the ship captain stopped the engine, the vessel was carried by the current to the shallow area some 200 meters away from the berthing area of the Bredco Port.

Carbon said that the company served dinner and accommodated some passengers who were non-residents of Bacolod City and carried them all to Iloilo during its first trip at 6:30 AM yesterday morning.

He said that Weesam I incurred minor trouble in its propeller and would be back to its normal operation, once it is given the go signal by the Philippine Coast Guard. (TDE)