DFA probes report of ship with all-Filipino crew sinking off Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said its embassy in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is looking for more details on the report that a cargo ship with an all-Filipino crew sank off the coast of Vietnam.

On board the cargo ship Bulk Jupiter which was carrying iron ore from China to Malaysia were 19 Filipino crew members, according to a Vietnamese news website Toui Tre News.

The 56,000 ton, Bahamas-flagged cargo ship, it said sank at 9:41 p.m. Friday 150 nautical miles from Vietnam’s southern city of Vung Tau.

As of Saturday, one crew member was saved while two bodies were recovered. The rest of the Filipino crew members were missing, according to news reports.

“Our embassy in Hanoi is coordinating with Vietnamese authorities to get confirmation and more details about the reported sinking of cargo ship Bulk Jupiter,” Charles Jose, DFA assistant secretary and spokesperson said in a text message to reporters.

“As always, we stand ready to extend all necessary and appropriate assistance to the ship’s Filipino crew members and their families,” Jose said.

A statement from the vessel’s owner Gearbulk, an international shipping company, said the search and rescue operation led by Singapore Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, is being stepped up.

The cargo ship departed Malaysia on December 30 and sent distress alert to the Japanese Coast Guard on Friday.

“The tug boat, M/V OLNG Muttrah, has picked up one surviving crew member in the area. It is now confirmed Bulk Jupiter, capsized and sank about 150 NM off the Vietnamese coast,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.