THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have provided assistance to a commercial vessel in distress off Basilan province, the PCG reported Sunday, July 16.

The PCG’s Basilan Station said the engine of the commercial vessel, M/V Trisha Kerstin 2, malfunctioned while navigating in the vicinity of Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, around 2 a.m. Saturday, July 15.

The vessel was carrying 342 passengers was traveling to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi coming from Zamboanga City when it encountered engine trouble due to broken main engine cooling pipe.

The Coast Guard Sub-Station Hadji Muhtamad deployed a search and rescue team together with the municipal government and were able to immediately located the vessel in distress drifting at sea.

All of the people aboard the vessel were safe although M/V Trisha Kerstin 2 was “dead on the water.”

“The said search and rescue team immediately boarded the vessel to render assistance as well as provide security while the crews conduct repair on the broken engine of the vessel,” the PCG said in a statement.

The vessel continued its voyage to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi after the engine problem was finally fixed around 12 a.m. Sunday, July 16.

M/V Trisha Kerstin 2 is estimated to arrive in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi at 7 p.m. of Sunday, June 16. (SunStar Zamboanga)