Vessel hits barge, eight hospitalized

At least eight people were hospitalized while 23 others suffered minor injuries after a fastcraft ferry rammed an anchored barge in Tagbilaran City last Saturday evening.

The vessels involved were Ocean Jet 3 and the barge “Valerie” owned and operated by Ocean Fast Ferries Inc. and Asian Shipping, respectively, both based in Cebu City.

According to Seaman first class Cristobal Hinayon, based on the final report sent by coastguard authorities in Tagbilaran to the operations section of the Coastguard district in Cebu, it was the fast craft that accidentally hit the barge.

Reports has it that the fastcraft left Cebu Port for Tagbilaran around 6 p.m. and arrived past 8 p.m.  The incident reportedly happened while the fastcraft was maneuvering to dock, but coastguard authorities could not yet say whose fault it was because the captains of both vessels have yet to file their protests.

Hinayon said the fastcraft was carrying 140 passengers and crew from Cebu.

According to Hinayon, those who hospitalized were Jocelyn Calolo, Michael Bacquiao, Rodel Cahote, Camille Mae Buan, Cecil Yap, Michelle Paras, Arnel Belocora and Julie Ann Gonzales.

Other passengers were allowed to go home after safely arriving at the port.

Hinayon said the barge was anchored at Beacon 3 of the entrance to the port of Tagbilaran when the said fastcraft rammed the starboard side of the barge, leaving a meter-deep dent on the said vessel.

The fastcraft's bow was also dented about a meter in, however, Hinayon said the damages were not enough to sink the two vessels as the damages were far from the waterline of the ships’ hulls.

Fastcraft ship captain Domingo Huilar and Valerie ship captain Emmanuel Corpuz are set to file their marine protest anytime this week, Hinayon said.  - Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP