Masbate RORO sinking: Search shifts to retrieval

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shifted yesterday its operations from rescue to retrieval as hopes dimmed for the recovery of the seven missing passengers of the ferry M/V Lady of Mt. Carmel that sank off Burias Island in Masbate last Friday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that as of 11 a.m. yesterday, they had shifted to retrieval operations. It had been 72 hours since any survivor had been located.

Balilo said there were still seven persons missing, of whom only three were listed in the ship’s manifest: Abigail Barredo, Noan Manocan and Leticia Andaya.

Four are not in the manifest: Fe Rapsing, Jonas Comidor, Arianne Comidor and Jocelyn Danao.

A total of 61 people have been rescued. Two women – Carlota Singa, 57, and Erlinda Jolbitado, 59 – died.

Balilo said that the joint rescue groups, from the PCG, Navy and the local governments, have scoured a 120-nautical-mile radius from the site where the 98.46-gross ton roll on, roll off (RORO) vessel sank.

Rafaelito Alejandro, director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, said that ongoing efforts would be confined to the surface since the planned deep-sea dive to locate the vessel was cancelled.

The Lady of Mt. Carmel went down at about 5:30 a.m. in waters estimated to be 1,000 feet deep.

“Our Navy technical divers cannot dive that deep,” Alejandro said, adding that starting yesterday, rescue teams would be  scanning the sea surface, especially along the coastlines, for floating bodies.

Alejandro also clarified that the operations would be temporarily suspended due to the expected bad weather brought by Tropical Depression Emong.

“Technically, though, the search and retrieval efforts were already terminated the other day after our divers failed to even have a visual of the sunken ship due to its very deep location, which is about 1,700 feet,” Alejandro told The STAR.

Captain blames vortex

The captain of the Lady of Carmel told the PCG that the ship was caught in a vortex, causing the vessel to tilt heavily on its right side and sink.

Captain Lauro Mateo claimed in his marine protest that at around 2:25 a.m. of June 14, the vessel left Pio Duran, Albay with only 35 passengers and 22 officers and crewmen, based on their passenger manifest.

The sea condition at the time of departure was calm.

“But at 5:10 a.m., the same day, in the vicinity of Agoja Point, Burias Island the vessel suddenly encountered a strong current with a whirlpool effect causing her to rapidly develop a heavy list to starboard side. Despite that heavy list, the rolling cargoes lashing remained intact,” said Mateo.

He immediately ordered the crew to distribute life jackets to the passengers.

“After a few minutes, the vessel completely capsized ... with her bottom exposed above water ...  I stayed a while together with five to help passengers and crew members before we were rescued by life raft. By this time, I saw the vessel’s propeller was still rotating at high speed before she totally sank,” he added.

One of the passengers on board a life raft was able to contact his relative, whom he requested to alert the PCG office in Aroroy.

The pump boat of Bantay Dagat along with the sister ships of the Lady of Carmel – the M/V Lady of Rosary and M/V Lady of Miraculous Medal – assisted in the rescue operations.

There were earlier reports that one of the passenger buses on board came loose from its chain and nylon mooring, causing the ship to tilt and later sink.

Meanwhile, Jabeth Dacanay, chief of staff of Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Maximo Mejia Jr., said they have given the shipping firm, Cebu-based Medallion Transport, owner of the Lady of Mt. Carmel, three days to explain why their franchise should not be cancelled or suspended.

Dacanay said they did not immediately suspend the seven other ships of Medallion Transport because the vessel must first be inspected.

“We do not have enough evidence to determine what really happened, if it really had an effect on the safety system, was it caused by human error, we still do not know,” said Dacanay.

She said the shipping firm was also servicing some “missionary routes” so passengers would be affected if the ships were grounded. – With Jaime Laude, Aurea Calica, Cet Dematera, Celso Amo