LIMAY, Bataan — Two crews died while three others were still missing after two foreign vessels collided at the vicinity waters between Corregidor Island and Bataan Friday night.
Coast Guard commander Hostillo Arturo Cornelio of the National Capital Region – Central Luzon district on Saturday said dredger Hong Hai 189 and chemical tanker Pettite Soeur figured in the collision in Manila Bay around 10 in the evening.
“Papasok ang Hong Hai 189 and then nagcha-change berth yong Petite Soeur around 10 p.m. kagabi nang tamaan yung dredger na Hong Hai 189 sa kanyang starboard stern tapos nagkaroon syempre ng butas kaya medyo nag-decapsized ito at may damage din ang chemical tanker na Petite Soeur kaya titignan namin mamaya,” he said.
Commander Jonathan Serote, CG Bataan station in the Port of Lamao, Limay, was with Cornelio.
Cornelio said they have detained Petite Soeur and presently conducting inspection and have found safety violations. “We have momentarily detained the chemical tanker for safety reasons and to conduct maritime casualty investigation.”
“If we find na mayroong negligence on both parties then we will file appropriate charges and definitely hindi namin paaalisin ang barko na ito,” he continued.
“Ang Hong Hai 189, eh syempre kasalukuyang nakataob. May nakontak na kaming salvage vessel. Ang kailangan naming gawin ngayon eh kasi right now nasa loob siya ng Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), so pina-priority namin yung matanggal yung barko doon at iniiwasan naming lumubog,” Cornelio furthered.
He said there were two casualties, a Chinese seaman and a Filipino safety officer, and three more missing.
“Ongoing pa ang search and rescue namin and right now may narinig kaming may kumakatok doon sa hull eh kaya coming na ang technical divers para ma-check yung ilalim ng barko. Definitely may isa doon panay may naririnig ang tropa namin doon na may kumakatok doon sa hull eh probably isa siya sa mga missing person na hinahanap namin,” Cornelio said.
He noted that 16 other crews of the Hong Hai 189 were rescued while 21 crews of the other boat were in good condition. The crews were Chinese nationals and Filipinos.
Two of those rescued were confined at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City while the 14 in good condition are in their office in Manila.
“Ang priority namin ay matanggal muna ang palubog na barko at mahanap ang nawawalang tao saka na ang mga marine casualty investigation although priority din ito kasi kailangan magawa ang investigation agad habang sariwa pa ang information na natanggap namin,” Cornelio said.
He said that the ill-fated vessel was to change berth while the chemical tanker came from Zambales where it was in quarrying operation.
