MANILA, Philippines鈥擜 total of 561 passengers were rescued from an interisland ship that encountered engine trouble while it was about to dock at the Iloilo City port on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Monday.
In a report to the PCG headquarters in Manila, Commodore Athelo Yba帽ez, district commander of the PCG鈥檚 Western Visayas district said that instead of docking, the MV St. Thomas Aquinas 鈥渄ecided to drop anchor about 500 yards from its supposed berthing area.鈥�
鈥淒ue to the ship鈥檚 size, the tug that was available at the Iloilo port failed to tow the vessel to shore. Instead, PCG personnel helped the passengers disembark using the same tugboat. PCG [personnel] were posted aboard the ship and at the terminal area to ensure the passengers鈥� safety,鈥� said Yba帽ez.
All Cagayan de Oro-bound passengers of the MV St. Thomas Aquinas 鈥渨ill be transported to Cebu aboard another commercial ship and then brought to their final destination,鈥� he added.
The ship plies the Manila-Bacolod City-Iloilo City-Cagayan de Oro City route.
Also on Sunday, the MV Lady of the Angel had the same problem, prompting personnel of the PCG鈥檚 Eastern Visayas district to assist the 144 passengers and crew of the ship bound for Bato, Southern Leyte.
鈥淭he vessel came from Cebu City and was on its way to Bato when the incident happened near St. Bernard town,鈥� said the PCG Action Center in Manila.
It added: 鈥淭he ship鈥檚 engine and electrical power were later restored to their normal operating conditions 聽鈥� The MV Lady of the Angel is now on its way to its port of call.鈥�