Ship loaded with cement sinks off Lapu-Lapu city

A cargo vessel carrying 23,000 bags of cement sank less than a mile from Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City Sunday evening. All 17 officers and crew managed to swim to shore safely.

A report from the Phil. Coast Guard (PCG) station in Cebu said the MV B & E Uno of the Cebu City-based B & E Sea Transport Corp. was unable to dock immediately at Pier 4, Cebu City when it arrived at 9 p.m. last Saturday from Iligan City because of inadequate berthing space.

The ship captain Jaime Cabajes was advised by its contracted arrastre service to temporarily dock near  FF Cruz, Mandaue City.

Around 7 p.m. last Sunday, Cabajes finally received the go signal to dock the vessel at pier 4.

While maneuvering in the seawaters between the pier of Super Shuttle Ferry and Gothong in Mandaue City at 0.8 nautical mile from the shoreline of Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City, the vessel hit a shallow area, causing it to tilt.

The vessel regained its balance the crew later noticed that water had entered the ship and its engine room was already flooded.

The Coast Guard said Cabajes decided to maneuver the ship to the seashore of Canjulao at 9 p.m. but after 30 minutes, it sank.

The officers and crew abandoned ship and swam to the seashore.

The crewmen were rescued later by Shuttle Service boat CLN, the Coast Guard said in its report.

A coast guard staffer said the vessel is submerged, but its masthead can still be seen above the water.

MV B & E Uno left Kiwalan Port of Iligan City at 7 p.m. on June 29 and arrived in Cebu City on June 30 at 9 p.m.

The PCG is still investigating the incident.