Troubled ship with 20 crew safe in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines  — Philippine officials said a cargo ship with 20 crew members from China has not sunk as earlier feared and was on its way to a local port.

Navy and coast guard officials said Saturday that the Panamanian-registered MV Oceanic Union took in water but its crew managed to pump it out off northern Ilocos Norte province. The vessel was on its way to Subic Bay, west of Manila.

Coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente had said earlier that the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center reported late Friday that it had received a distress call from the ship.

He had said the ship may have sunk or was sinking since the crew had already abandoned ship, and that a search had been launched.