Coast Guard helps rescue 142 from sinking ferry

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) helped rescue 142 passengers and crew of a Pasig River ferryboat that was already half-submerged Friday.

In a statement, the PCG said it assisted the 78-gross ton Pasig Ferry 6, a twin-hulled vessel owned by the Nautical Transport Services Inc. (NTSI). The passenger ferry carried 139 passengers and three crewmembers. Its skipper was Salvador Mosqueda.

Initial investigation showed that around 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, the Pasig Ferry 6 was headed upstream when the crew noticed that the boat was tilting to its port or left side and water had already flooded the vessel.

The PCG detachment in Hospicio de San Jose informed the PCG Station Pasig of the vessel’s predicament, and the station immediately dispatched its Special Operations Group (SOG) divers to the vessel, which was located at Valenzuela Ferry Station in Makati City.

They assisted in transferring 139 passengers to its sister boat, Pasig Ferry 3, and they were brought to their respective terminals. The Pasig Ferry 6, on the other hand, was secured and properly moored.

The following day, the PCG advised NTSI president Eduardo Bondad to tow the vessel and have it repaired in its shipyard. The PCG said the boat should also be re-inspected by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and the NTSI must file a marine protest that would give a detailed account on what transpired.

When water was pumped out of the damaged ship, the PCG representatives reportedly saw a 10-inch crack on the ferry’s left front side fiberglass hull.