Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Marina probe on sinking of Cebu-based ship starts; company aids survivors
THE owners of a Cebu-based ship that sank off Palawan Friday last week appealed for the public to pray for the safety of the 14 missing officers and crew.
That, as the shipping firm sent funds to Cuyo General Hospital in Palawan as payment for medical attention given to four survivors, one of whom was said to be in critical condition.
Chief mate Roulete Sapallida, oilers Marlon Tiguman and Rey Cabuhay, and apprentice Richard Abrigona will be brought home to Cebu once they are discharged from the hospital.
They were rescued by the crew of the passing fb Alester, a fishing boat owned by Irma Fishing Corp.
JPS Manager Gallegher Gallarde said the missing men, who include ship captain Renato Dongallo, need prayers.
In it marine protest, JPS Shipping, a member of the United Trampers Association of the Philippines, told the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Cebu that mv Mia capsized off Cabile Island, about 20 miles off Tubbataha Reef in Palawan.
According to the document, a copy of which the PCG received the other day, mv Mia left San Fernando, Cebu last Sept. 27 (not Sept. 26 as earlier reported) carrying 880 metric tons (about 22,000 bags) of cement from Taiheiyo Cement Phils. Inc.
The cargo was to be delivered to EEI Engineering Equipment at Brooke’s Point in Palawan.
Gallarde said the EEI chartered their vessel for that transport only.
In the marine protest, Gallarde stated that the last communication they received from mv Mia was at past 3 p.m. last Sept. 28.
He said the ship informed their office that instead of arriving at 6 a.m. on Sept. 29, it would reach Brooke’s Point around 1 p.m. yet, or a delay of seven hours.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) 7 marine specialist Mardon Martin said they will continue investigating how and why the cargo vessel sank at the height of typhoon Hanna.
To this end, testimonies of the four survivors are important, he said.
In a separate interview, Marina 7 Director Glenn Cabañez hoped to get some developments today, after a 24-hour rescue operation for the 14 missing crew proved fruitless.
Gallarde said they were informed that the Philippine Navy and the PCG had created a joint rescue operation using big patrol boats and helicopters.
As of yesterday afternoon, not one of the crewmembers was found.
Owners of JPS, meanwhile, met to discuss what to do next to assist the families who showed up at their office yesterday. (EOB)
