Saturday, May 16, 2015

Talisay City, Cebu — A chief engineer was hurt when a fast craft collided with a cargo vessel late Wednesday afternoon at Lauis Ledge off Talisay City, the same spot where a passenger vessel and cargo ship collided two years ago, killing 116 passengers and crew.
The Lauis Ledge has become an eerie spot for vessels traveling from Cebu to Bohol and passengers on board fast craft Starcraft 9 went into panic when the sea craft collided with cargo vessel MV Our Lady of Faith at 5:50 p.m. last May 13.
Fortunately, all 262 passengers and crew of the Bohol-bound fast craft were unharmed, except for chief engineer Romeo Astillejo, who was thrown off into the sea during the collision.
Astillejo was rescued by fellow crewmen and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the collision damaged the fast craft’s right portion but Our Lady of Faith suffered no significant damage and her crew were safe.
The cargo ship, manned by Captain Jose Adaptar, was en route to Bacolod City from the port in the City of Naga while the fast craft, under Captain Roman Pialago, was bound for Tubigon, Bohol.
PCG Central Visayas District Chief-of-Staff Weniel Azcuna said the PCG is now questioning the captains and crew of the vessels.
He said there is a “need to monitor the traffic situation” in Lauis Ledge because it is the entry and exit point of vessels heading to or from Cebu.
Right in that same spot where the two vessels crashed last Wednesday is where passenger vessel St. Thomas Aquinas and cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete collided on August 16, 2013. The mishap caused the death of 116 passengers and crew.
The Cebu Coast Guard earlier said a naval highway will be set up to guide vessels coming and going out of that part of Cebu, but this plan has yet to be realized.
Based on the plan, the PCG will set up a Vessel Traffic Monitoring System (VTMS) to monitor vessels using the Cebu Harbor Channel.
Just like a national highway, the VTMS will put up lighted buoys to guide entering and exiting vessels, especially in the Lauis Ledge.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/vessels-collide-in-same-2013-sea-mishap-spot/#VXiOgYMTwoOlMv5a.99

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