Search on for Chinese cargo vessel that sank off Catanduanes

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Philippines – A Philippine Air Force helicopter has been scouring the Pacific Ocean off Candanduanes Island to search for Chinese cargo vessel believed to have sunk in the area on Saturday afternoon.

The M/V Sun Spirit, a Panamanian-registered ship, was carrying iron ore sand from Leyte when it sent a distress message at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, said an official of the 905th squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to issue a statement.

The official told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Coast Guard detachment in Virac received the distress message, saying that the ship was listing and sinking in the ocean about 34 nautical miles from Binorong point in Baras town of Catandauanes.

The Panamanian-registered cargo ship was skippered by one Capt. Park Cheol Eon, a South Korean,  and has a crew of another Korean and 12 Indonesians.

Personnel of the PCG detachment, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Philippine National Police, the 905th PCGA squadron and the Baras local government have been alerted to help in the rescue and recovery efforts, according to the source.

But up to mid-morning Sunday, the Coast Guard personnel reported no sign of the vessel from the nearest point at land, the source said.