Does anyone have any info on the interisland ship that was hit by a big wave on a trip out of Manila today.?

Question

Please, I have family in the the Philippines, need info.

Thank You
Bruce
Toronto, Canada

Thank you folks the internet tavels at the speed of light, while the TV said news @ 11PM.

Love Bruce
Toronto, Canada

Thank all for the information.

Bruce

Answer 1

Headlines
Over 100 missing in ferry sinking
By Edu Punay
Friday, July 13, 2007

An overloaded ferry sank in rough waters near Quezon province before dawn yesterday, leaving at least nine people dead and more than a hundred missing.

Authorities said the 400-ton MV Blue Water Princess was on its way to Masbate from Lucena in Quezon when it sank reportedly after hitting a reef in the Sibuyan Sea at around 3 a.m. The sea was rough but there was no rain at the time of the sinking, witnesses said.

The Southern Tagalog District police identified three of the eight fatalities as Maribel Mirallo, Lourdes Ricablanca and Wilkin Bernas. The names of the other fatalities as well as of the survivors were unavailable as of press time.

The sinking came as typhoon “Bebeng,” some 900 kilometers off Aparri, picked up strength and continued to move towards Japan.

Casualty figures varied as several groups took part in search and rescue operations. Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parayno, the military spokesman for southern Luzon, said the roll on-roll off vessel was carrying 256 passengers and 14 vehicles. “So far, a total of 128 have been rescued, with 13 fatalities,” Parayno said.

But Coast Guard Quezon Commander Eli Tumulac said the ship’s manifest listed only 60 passengers and 23 crewmen. He said they were trying to reconcile the figures with those of the military and local government units. Overloading is common in Philippine maritime travel and many passengers are not listed in the manifest. The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands, is highly dependent on its maritime industry.

The Coast Guard learned of the sinking from the National Disaster Coordinating Council after more than five hours, officials said.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Damian Carlos said 118 survivors were rescued. PCG’s rescue vessels involved in search and rescue were BRP San Juan and BRP Lanao del Norte.

Most of the survivors – as well as remains of the victims – were found in the coastal towns of Pagsangahan and San Andres.

Carlos said he would ask the Board of Marine Inquiry to investigate the sinking. “We will investigate, but as of now we are focusing on search and rescue operations. We have to ensure that all passengers are accounted for,” he said.

He said that based on survivors’ accounts, many passengers might have been trapped in the vessel.

He also said the ship’s manifest listed 60 passengers, 33 crew, 32 truck drivers and helpers, and 14 vehicles. The vessel is owned by AC- Joy Express Liner and Magic Blue Ferry.

“We dispatched two helicopters but they found nothing,” Parayno said. “They had to turn back as bad weather set in.” He said a Navy ship would also help in search and rescue.

“The captain, Virgilio Retardo, interviewed by my lieutenant, said there were 256 passengers and 14 vehicles on board when the vessel went down,” Parayno said.

Parayno said the vessel had tried to seek shelter on the coast due to the strong waves but it apparently struck a rock, causing it to sink some 500 meters from shore. The ship was only partially submerged and lying on its starboard side.

“The people who immediately rescued the survivors were the national police and the Department of Agriculture,” Mar Edades, an official of the coastal town of San Francisco said. “They have some boats for fisheries monitoring and they know the area well,” he said. But he added they had to suspend the rescue operations because of the strong waves.

“Unfortunately, the 256-passenger capacity vessel which was loaded with 14 rolling cargoes beached in shallow water that resulted in the vessel listing to port,” Capt. Rodolfo Isorena, Southern Tagalog District commander said.

Isorena said strong waves hampered search and rescue operations. “Our rescue vessel experienced heavy wind and strong waves while traveling to the site,” he said.

Surigao ship mishap

In Surigao City, Army and Coast Guard personnel towed the stranded M/V Shuttle Ferry 10 to a safer area.

Col. Isidro Purisima, commanding officer of the 30th IB Philippine Army, told The STAR that his troops, in coordination with the Coast Guard, launched the operation upon the request of the ship’s owner, Asia Marine Transportation Corp.

The ship has been drifting off Surigao since Wednesday, after experiencing engine trouble.

“The vessel, which has cargo of nine six-wheeler trucks, one 10-wheeler truck including its 41 passengers, some bound for Pasay City in Manila (and) others for Leyte, is now anchored one mile north of Rizal Island, Dinagat Islands Province,” Purisima said.

Purisima said they first tried to tow M/V Shuttle Ferry 10 back to Lipata Wharf but strong winds and big waves forced the tugboats to abandon the operation.

“We immediately brought the vessel to safer area, anchored some one mile off Rizal Island. They are now safe there and there is nothing to worry about since food was also brought to the area courtesy of the Surigao City and Surigao del Norte Provincial Governments and other NGOs and good Samaritans,” he added.

M/V Shuttle Ferry 10 left Surigao City’s Lipata Wharf for Liloan, Southern Leyte Wednesday morning. Its engine conked out at the vicinity of Sumilon Island, prompting ship Capt. Peregrino Colis to send distress calls to the boat’s owners.

Lt. Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesperson, said the engine broke down when seawater seeped into the ship’s engine.

Bebeng moves out

Typhoon “Bebeng” (international name: Man-yi) intensified yesterday as it moved away from the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pagasa weather forecaster Rene Molina said Bebeng is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility today as it moves toward Japan.

But Pagasa said Bebeng’s exit is expected to induce rains particularly in Southern Luzon and Visayas.

“Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to seek safer ground against possible occurrence of flash floods and landslides,” Pagasa said in its bulletin. With Nestor Etolle, Arnell Ozaeta, Ben Serrano, Helen Flores, Ed Amoroso, AFP

Answer 2

Passenger-laden ferry sinks in Philippines
Manila News.Net
Thursday 12th July, 2007 (BigNewsNetwork.com)

An eastern Philippines ferry has sunk, with thirteen people dead and the lives of more than one hundred others at risk.

The 400-tonne ferry MV Blue Water was carrying 256 passengers. Two helicopters were sent to the site of the sinking boat but there have been no reports of rescues.

Bad weather has now set in and further rescue efforts may have to be made by sea.

The vessel went down in the Sibuyan Sea off the southern tip of Luzon island while en route to the island of Masbate.

A naval vessel has been sent to the area to help in the search.

The sinking came as typhoon Man-yi, some 900 kilometres off the coast of northern Luzon, picked up strength and continued to move towards Japan.

Answer 3

It was the MV Blue Water Princess, sailing from Lucena to the island of Masbate. It sank off San Francisco, about 140 miles southeast of Manilla. There are 8 confirmed dead, 106 rescued out of about 256 on board. A Phillipines Navy vessel is headed for the area. Two helicopters had to turn back because of bad weather.

Answer 4

Hi there, Firstly, are you going on the cruise out of Puerto Rico this Sunday? I will be on that one, maybe we'll see eachother! Secondly, if you are going on a Caribbean Cruise, then the chances of getting hit by the wave near Chile is VERY unlikely. If any cruise line was concerned in the least, they would suspend all disembarkation of any port until further notice, or they would avoid areas with possible rogue wave warnings. Not to worry, the chances of that wave hitting your particular ship is one in a million! Have an AMAZING time on your Cruise! Courtney :)

Answer 5

There was 2 sea accident today one in Palawan and the other is in Quezon province:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=76408
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=76407

Answer 6

Please check Philippine Daily Inquirer online.