Nobody hurt as 2 vessels collide in Iloilo port

ILOILO CITY — Strong water currents triggered a collision of a passenger ship and a cargo vessel in the city’s port, and nobody was reported injured, the Coast Guard said.

Lt. Commander Atelo Ibañez, of Coast Guard-Iloilo, said the 2,439-ton MV Asia Malaysia, owned by Trans-Asia Shipping, and MV Sulcon V, a cargo vessel of Sulpicio Lines, were attempting to dock at the city’s pier when they collided at about 6:10 a.m., apparently due to miscalculations.

MV Asia Malaysia had just arrived from Cebu City when the collision occurred.

"The ship was hit twice, in the left side of the tourist cabin and on the railings in the middle of the ship," said Goldah Delmar, a passenger of MV Asia Malaysia.

Delmar said some passengers panicked and immediately donned life jackets, fearing the ship would sink.

Edgar de la Cruz, manager of Trans-Asia Shipping here, said there was no major damage to MV Asia Malaysia. — Leo Solinap