Boat-tanker collision: Navy rescues 21 fishermen

MANILA, Philippines -Twenty-one fishermen on a fishing boat were rescued by the Philippine Navy after it collided with a tanker in Manila early Tuesday, the Philippine Fleet said.

The fishing boat “Lala Boom” hit the tanker ship 4.7 nautical miles off South Harbor, Manila.

“MPAC BA485 was patrolling along Manila Bay when they spotted M/B Lala Boom B in distress situation with her right outrigger broken after it was rammed by Motorized Tanker Pulilan,” said Lt. Sandy Abdulgani in a statement Wednesday.

Abdulgani also said that the boat attempted to cross the tanker’s bow loaded with jet fuel but in the process led to the collision.

Deputy public information office of the Philippine Fleet Lieutenant Senior Grade Rommel Rodriguez told reporters that it has been a superstition of the fishermen to cross the bow of big ships because it meant good luck and good catch.

M/T Pulilan was manned by 14 persons and was headed for the Pasig Entrance to unload its cargo, while M/B Lala Boom B, which was staffed by 20 persons, was headed for the fishing grounds.

The vessels were already towed to the Manila International Containers Port for the concerned companies to settle the case.

Philippine Fleet’s Commander, Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez, commended his men for a quick response and called on fishermen to refrain from such superstition that poses great dangers to lives at sea.