SOME 271 ships in Central Visayas ran aground, 12 capsized while 12 others sank during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai).
The latest numbers were provided by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu last Monday, Dec. 27.
Among the ill-fated ships was mv Ida, which capsized in the waters near the port of Barangay Tayud, Consolacion in northern Cebu where the tugboat had taken shelter from Typhoon Odette on the night of Dec. 16, 2021. Six crew members were reported missing.
As of Monday, the number of crew members recovered had risen to three, however.
The recovered crew members of mv Ida were Capt. Luisito Roble, chief engineer Arthur Saavedra and crew member Roniel Fernandez, said Capt. Alvin Dagalea, commander of the PCG Cebu.
Another ill-fated ship was mv Tug Strong Trinity. Both the tugboat and its 11 crew members have been missing since Dec. 17, a day after Odette slammed into Cebu. The boat had taken shelter from Odette in the municipal waters of Talisay City, Cebu on Dec. 16.
In a statement Tuesday, Dec. 28, Key West Shipping Line Corp. said aerial and dive search and rescue operations had not located either the boat or the crew so far.
“Key West Shipping Line Corp. has deployed aerial asset Cesna 182 with registration number RP-C8123 to conduct an aerial search at the coast of Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, all the way to the adjacent part of Bohol Island. Aerial asset departed the Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 11:45 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2021,” the company said.
Key West said the aerial search found an oil spill near the vessel’s last location and that the total search and rescue flight mission had lasted two hours.
On Dec. 27, the Philippine Coast Guard, divers and relatives aboard mv Tug Strong Desire also began their search in the Naga sea area, with divers going 55 feet deep, still to no avail, the company said.
Family members of the missing crew were asked to coordinate with McZabnar Narvasa, human resources manager, or the company’s office at J.L. Briones St. at the North Reclamation Area in Brgy. Carreta, Cebu City.
Also on Dec. 16, Leonardo Martorillas, a crew member of mv Lite Ferry 8, drowned when the ship sank.
The ship had been docked at the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc. ship repair area in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban when it sank. (REV, KAL, CTL)