Trans-Asia ship runs aground; 376 stranded

MORE than 300 passengers and 72 crew members of Trans-Asia 9 were stranded for about four hours after their vessel ran aground off the seas of Talisay City, Cebu on its way to Pier 5 in Cebu City from Cagayan de Oro City.

The vessel was supposed to dock at Pier 5 at 6 a.m. yesterday but the Coast Guard received a call from the vessel informing them that it had ran aground at Lawis Ledge at 6 past a.m.

The vessel was avoiding hitting another vessel, said Julian Sy, management representative and spokesman for Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc.

“In the efforts of the officers to avoid any accident, MV Trans-Asia 9 ran aground on shallow water. No injury or damage to persons or properties. Pax (passengers) were served meals and their concerns taken care of,” Sy said.

miscalculation

But Commander Weniel Azcuna of the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station said ship captain Gorgonio Fianga told him that the chief mate was handling the vessel when it ran aground.

“It was allegedly a miscalculation of the route by the vessel’s chief mate based on the statement of the ship captain, but that is still subject for verification”, Azcuna said.

He said that the ship captain would be required to submit the marine protest within 24 hours.

The vessel was carrying 360 adult passengers, 4 infants and 72 officers and crew, said Azcuna.

At around 10 a.m. and when the tide was already high, the vessel was able to sail again towards Pier 5 and it arrived safely at 10:25 a.m., Azcuna said.

Azcuna also said that Trans-Asia shipping lines decided to cancel its trip back to Cagayan de Oro on Saturday night because of the incident.

no option

Azcuna, however, said the management had no option but to do it because it would be mandatory for the vessel to be subjected to underwater hull inspection to determine if the vessel remained seaworthy.

After the inspection, the vessel should get first the passenger safety certificate from the Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (Marina 7) before the Coast Guard would allow the vessel to sail again./Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Carine M. Asutilla