Cargo ship runs aground off Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A cargo vessel carrying 10,517 bags of fertilizer ran aground off Oslob, Cebu after it was battered by waves Monday night while on its way from Isabel, Leyte to Dipolog City.

All the 19 crewmen, including ship captain Ricky Amario, of cargo ship MV Anna Jinky were safe.

According to ship apprentice Benson Leones, the cargo ship was trying to seek shelter along the shoreline of Barangay (village) Bonbon, Oslob, 117 kilometers from Cebu City, due to the rough sea condition.

Leones and another crew member disembarked from the vessel early Tuesday, bringing with them the personal belongings and seaman’s books of their colleagues to secure these items should anything happen to the vessel.

He said huge waves since Sunday forced them to seek shelter several times–the first at 6 p.m. Sunday off the Apo Cement Co. in Naga City; and the second time at 7 a.m. Monday off the coast of Argao, Cebu.

Leones said they proceeded with their voyage at 6 p.m. Monday until strong waves again battered their vessel hours later at around 10 p.m.

“When we reached Oslob, huge waves battered the vessel so we were trying to take shelter again but we ran aground,” Leones said.

One of the crewmen called up his father in Dalaguete town, Cebu who coordinated with the Oslob police.

It was decided that Leones and another crew member disembark from the cargo ship at 1 a.m. Tuesday when the sea normalized.

As of press time, the vessel was still stuck in the area with 17 crew members still on board. The Cebu Coast Guard said the vessel might be towed by a tugboat.