Panamanian vessel loaded with rice stranded at Lingayen Gulf

BOLINAO, Pangasinan — A Panamanian vessel carrying rice has been stranded in the Lingayen Gulf since Monday (Jan. 7), due to engine trouble which its crew is still attempting to repair.

MV Honor had to stop after one of its engines stopped working, said Bolinao Mayor Arnold Celeste, quoting ship captain Zhay Quon.

Celeste on Tuesday (Jan. 8) visited the boat with a team from the coast guard, the police, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, due to initial reports that the waters around the vessel had turned black.

MV Honor was tasked to deliver 60,000 bags of rice from Vietnam to Poro Port in the La Union city of San Fernando.

It was consigned to the Golden Mountain Purpose Cooperative at San Quintin town in Pangasinan.

Celeste said members of Bantay Dagat spotted the distressed vessel about 12 kilometers from the shores of Bolinao, as it patrolled the waters.

Celeste said the vessel had not alerted the Coast Guard, but the vessel’s crew claimed they did not know who to contact in the country. /lb