1 dead, 19 rescued from sunken cargo vessel off Batangas

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – One crewmember died when a cargo vessel sank off the coast of Batangas on New Year’s Day, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday, January 2.

A total of 19 crewmembers of the M/V Sea Merchant were rescued in two batches – the first 11 by a passing tanker, the M/T Mactan, which received a distress signal from the cargo vessel on Thursday.

The second group of 8 were later rescued.  The PCG identified the casualty as Almarito Anciano, the vessel’s chief engineer.

The PCG said in a statement that the vessel carrying 20,040 bags of cement sank at around 6:45 am on January 1, approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of Malabrigo Point in Lobo, Batangas. It was on its way to Antique from Bauan Port in La Union.

Celso Rey Baiza, Chief Officer of  the M/V Sea Merchant who was among those rescued, said that their vessel was navigating the sea towards Dumali Point, Oriental Mindoro on New Year’s day when they were battered by big waves and strong winds.

The vessel sank a few minutes after Baiza issued a distress call. – Rappler.com