78 stranded in Bohol sea rescued

About 50 passengers of Super Ferry Shuttle 5 and 28 crew members were left afloat in the waters off Bein Unido town in Bohol province for eight hours after the vessel’s engine conked out shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Cebu Coast Guard commander Rolando Punzalan said the boat capain Romeo Berdos will be ordered to explain why he failed to immediately inform their office about the incident.

“Technically there was really no intention to let us know right away,” Punzalan said.

He said he only knew about the incident from relatives of passengers who called and texted agency representatives at 5 a.m. yesterday.

Punzalan said the boat captain will be issued a maritime violation receipt to require an explanation on his failure to immediately coordinate with the Coast Guard.

As a procedure, the ship captain will also be asked to file a marine protest and produce a certificate of seaworthines from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Super Ferry Shuttle 5 of the Asian Marine Transport Corp. left the port of Cebu for Camiguin Island at 8 p.m. last Friday.

Punzalan said the vessel’s steering motor wire got grounded causing it to short circuit at 12:14 a.m. on Saturday.

“They will have to be summoned by Marina and will be asked to show cause as to why they should not be penalized for not reporting to us right away,” said Punzalan.

Asian Marine Transport Corp. sent Super Shuttle Ferry 17 to tow their vessel back to their docking area at pier 8 at the Mandaue City Reclamation Area at 8 a.m.

Punzalan said everyone on board were safe when the vessel docked at the Mandaue port.

A radio report said the passengers were still on board the vessel seven hours later.

Punzalan said the passengers received a refund while others were booked to another vessel headed to Camiguin Island. Correspondents Joy Cherry Quito and Edison delos Angeles