Engine trouble stalls ship

CEBU, Philippines - A Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. vessel developed engine trouble en route from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro the other night.

“All the passengers and crew were all safe. No one was hurt,” said Arthur Kenneth Sy, president and chief executive officer of Trans Asia.

Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Rolando Punzalan said that MV Trans-Asia 5 left Cebu 4 p.m. the other day and developed trouble around 10:30 p.m. off Siquijor after its engine overheated.

Sy added that the damaged part was immediately repaired and the vessel was expected to arrive in Cagayan de Oro at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Punzalan said that the vessel was carrying 690 adult passengers, 21 child passengers and 64 crew members on board at the time.

According to the shipping line’s website, MV Trans-Asia 5 is the largest and the fastest newly-acquired vessel of the company. 

Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. has been serving the riding public for more than 36 years. (FREEMAN)