Filipino fishing boat sinks; fishermen rescued by foreign vessel
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) today reported F/B (Fishing Boat) Aqua Princess with 17 crewmembers capsized last Wednesday midnight, October 7,2020 some 12 miles north of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.
At past midday Saturday, boat captain Eddie Ariño instructed Pedro Manalo, Jr, 39 years old and Jerby Regala, 26 years old to use their service boat and call for help.
At 5:30 A.M. today, the crew arrived at Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan and reported the incident to the PCG Sub-Station in Infanta town. Preparations for possible search and rescue operations began.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said already launched search and rescue operations.
The PCG personnel of District Northern Luzon complemented by PNP and local government unit rescue operatives from Infanta were deployed to locate the missing fishing boat.
A few minutes past 3:00 P.M., Sunday, Commodore Balilo said they receive a report the Motor Vessel (MV Kumano Mary, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier rescued the remaining passengers some 75 Nautical Miles west of Agno, Pangasinan.
“We are coordinating with the ship captain of MV Kumano Maru as of this time. Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Malapascua is on standby to rendezvous with the said bulk barrier,” Commodore Balilo said.
In a follow-up report, the Philippine Coast Guard released photos of the 15 crewmen rescued by the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Kumano Maru.
The MV Kumano Maru will rendezvous with the BRP Malapascua in the vicinity of Bataan Province at about 7:00 P.M. Sunday to turn-over the rescued fishermen.
It was learned the MV Kumano Maru was bound for Australia from China when they rescued the fishermen who were reportedly clinging to the capsized fishing boat. (Melo M. Acuña)
Fifteen of the crewmen of the ill-fated FB Aqua Princess were rescued the Panamanian-registered MV Kumano Maru which was bound for Australia from China. They will be turned over the PCG authorities at about 7:00 P.M. Sunday in the vicinity of Bataan Province. Two others, Pedro Manalo Jr. and Jerby Regala are shown at the PCG Substation Infanta. The Philippine coast Guard also released the list of crewmen led by boat captain Eddie Arino. (PCG Photos)
Comments