Ship runs aground in Oslob

A cargo vessel carrying 10,517 bags of fertilizers ran aground in the waters off Bonbon in Oslob town while in transit to Dipolog City from Isabel, Leyte at 10 p.m. Monday.

The 19 crewmen of MV Anna Jinky including the ship captain Ricky Amario were safe.

The vessel is owned by Cebu City-based Lilygene Sea Transport Corporation.

Benson Leones, 21, from Alegria, Surigao del Norte, said their vessel was about to take shelter at the coastline of Oslob because of the strong waves but it ran aground in the shallow area.

Leones said one of the crewmen called up his father in Dalaguete who in turn coordinated with the Oslob Police Station for a rescue operation.

When the waves calmed down at 1 a.m. Tuesday, Leones and another crew member decided to leave the ship to bring the personal belongings of all the crew members to safety.

They are staying in the police station while 17 crewmen remain on board the vessel which is still stuck in the area.

Leones further revealed that at 6 p.m. Sunday, they also took shelter in the waters off Apo Cement Corp. in Naga City because of strong waves.

When the waves subsided at 4 a.m. Monday, they went on with their voyage but the seas became rough again at 7 a.m. so they decided to stop at the coastline off Argao town.

He said they got scared because they experienced engine trouble.

At 6 p.m. Monday, they left Argao until they ran aground at 10 p.m. in Oslob town.

Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Weniel Azcuna said the owner of the vessel, Constantino Yu, informed him that he will hire a tugboat to tow the vessel.

Azcuna said he also required the ship captain to submit a marine protest to the Coast Guard detachment in Talisay, Santander.  /Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag