REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA -- One crew member died after a cargo vessel sank off Batangas province in northern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday (2/1).
The 19 other crew, however, were safely rescued separately after M/V Sea Merchant submerged at the vicinity waters approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of Malabrigo Point in Lobo town in Batangas, the state agency said.
The ill-fated vessel was carrying 20,040 bags of cement and en route to central Philippine province of Antique from Bauan Port in Batangas where they loaded 16,000 liters of diesel oil.
According to the ship's chief officer, while the vessel was navigating towards Dumali Point in Oriental Mindoro province, big waves and strong winds battered its port until water got inside. But before it sank, the chief mate managed to initiate a distress call.
A passing M/T Mactan Island, a tanker, rescued 11 crew members on board a life raft.
The other nine crewmen, including the body of vessel's chief engineer, were rescued on Friday morning, the PCG said.
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