2 Cebuano sailors survive ship’s collision with iceberg

Two Cebuano seafarers survived a cruise ship’s collision with an iceberg near the South Shetland Islands in the Antarctic Ocean last week.

Biolito Alkuino, 50, a marine engineer of Meadowland Village, Upper Pakigne, Minglanilla town, and Bernie Dupa of Banawa, Guadalupe, Cebu City, both crewmembers of M/S Explorer, were two of the 45 Filipino crewmembers rescued in the said accident.

Alkuino’s wife, Zenaida said that her husband is now in a hotel in Argentina and is expected to arrive this week or early next week.

“Pasalamat na lang jud mi kay kung wala moabot ‘tong Norwegian ship nga nisalbar nila, wala jud siguroy mabuhi tungod sa kabugnaw sa lugar,” she said.

Biolito has been working with the North Sea Agency for 15 years but only started with the Explorer last March.  His contract expires this January.    

The Explorer usually makes two-week cruises around the Antarctic, costing around $8,000 per cabin.

Last Friday the ship’s hull was cracked after it hit an iceberg, the ship listed to starboard and the captain finally ordered her to be abandoned 20 hours after the collision.

The 91 passengers, 9 expedition staff and 54 crewmen were later rescued by the Norwegian ship Nord Norge and brought to a Chilean airbase on King George Island.

The ship, built in 1969 and refitted in 1993, was travelling out of Ushuaia in Argentina, sailing south to Antarctica when it hit ice off King George Island and began taking on water.   — Phoebe Jen Indino/BRP