Huge waves brought by typhoon cause ships to break moorings, run aground

CEBU, Philippines - A foreign vessel ran aground at the height of super typhoon “Yolanda” yesterday.

Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas Commander William Melad said Netherlands-registered M/V Schelde Trader got stuck off Lauis Ledge in Talisay City, Cebu.

Melad said that the vessel was actually anchored for safety due to the bad weather but strong winds and huge waves carried it to a shallow area where it hit bottom.

The PCG, however, received no report on injuries to the vessel’s crew, including 12 officers, caused by what happened.

As to the vessels docked because of the typhoon, Melad said they received no untoward incident in Cebu except for two ships tied to port at the Gothong Wharf in Mandaue City whose ropes loosened when Yolanda started battering Cebu.

Melad said M/V Ozamis Bay 1 and M/V Cagayan Bay 1 were swept towards the sea by the strong waves but were secured afterwards, with the vessels sustaining no damage.

In Bohol, members of the PCG and the Bohol Provincial Police Office successfully rescued two barges that were also carried by waves deeper to sea.

Barge Big Champ and Barge Roger were moored at the Guindulman pier until constant battering by big waves caused the ropes to give way.

Not one from the crew of the two vessels was reported to have been injured as a result of the incident.

Meanwhile, Melad said sea vessels would be allowed to sail once the weather bureau lifts the storm signal warnings in Cebu and rest of the Visayas.

“As soon as PAGASA will lift warning signals, pwede na nating payagan na mag travel yung mga barko,” he said.—Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Bryner Diaz of Banat News/RHM