2 missing as ship sinks off Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  -  At least 33 fishermen were rescued while two of their companions remain missing and feared dead when their fishing boat capsized while venturing on the fishing grounds off Sulu Sunday, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Lt. Cmdr. Joemark Angue, PCG district spokesman, said the F/B UNI-18 of the YL Fishing Co. had 35 crew and fishermen when the vessel  sank about 3 a.m Sunday  while on the Tumabal fishing ground off Sulu sea.

He said the 148.58 gross ton steel-hulled fishing boat capsized on its side while pulling its net loaded with catch.

“The vessel sank due to severe listing brought about by uneven weight distribution,” Angue said citing investigation reports.

He said the fishing boat was on the act of retrieving her catch by pulling the net using the ship’s boom when the vessel severely listed at her port side.

According to Angue, the chief engineer rushed to the engine room to assist the crew in charge of the ship’s ballast tank who allegedly fell asleep.

“But it  was already too late to do any corrective measures as the vessel rapidly capsized within the span of 10 minutes, ” he said.

As a result, all the crew and fishermen fell overboard except for the two crew identified as chief engineer Renato Villalobos and oiler Irineo Buhayan who were declared missing.

The survivors were immediately rescued by the  vessel's sister ships, a skip boat, light boat, and fishing vessel Aqua-8.

Angue said other ships tried to locate the two missing crew, but failed to find them.

The 33 rescued crews were brought to this city and were described to be all in good condition except for the master quarter who suffered minor injury on his right leg.

Angue said vessels plying or operating near the area where the fishing boat sunk have been alerted to be on the look out for the  two missing victims. - Roel Pareño