Search for crewmen of sunken ship called off

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – The Philippine Coast Guard had called off its weeklong search and rescue efforts for the 10 missing Chinese seafarers, whose Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel sank off northern Batanes waters earlier this month.

This, after the PCG failed to locate any signs of survivors or retrieved any remains among the missing crew of the MV Hongwei following non-stop aerial and sea-level search and rescue operations along the Batanes sea coast where said vessel capsized while on its way to mainland China.

Relatedly, Captain George Ursabia, PCG Northern Luzon district commander, said that the oil slick from the bunker fuel of the ill-fated ship was already contained amid fears that such slick could trigger a widespread oil spill along the Batanes coast where the boat capsized.

“We have already terminated the search and rescue operation. The Taiwan coast guard had terminated theirs two days ago,” Ursabia said. 

China and Taiwan coast guards, backed by C-130 and Islander aircrafts, had also joined the PCG during the seven-day search mission.

Despite terminating its search operation, the PCG said that all seafarers passing along the area have been advised to be always on guard for any survivors or recovered bodies.

The missing persons were among the 24 Chinese crew of the ill-fated MV Hongwei, which went under water amid the rough seas and strong winds off Batanes coast, particularly in the island town of Itbayat while on its way to mainland China. 

Itbayat, the country’s northernmost town, is located near the boundary with Taiwan.

The missing crews’ 14 companions were earlier rescued by a passing vessel along the area as well as Taiwanese coast guards.