A PASSENGER vessel and a cargo vessel collided off Mandaue City in Cebu last Sunday afternoon, injuring 25 passengers, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.
Citing initial investigation, PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said the collision was caused by the passenger vessel MV St. Jhudiel, which encountered steering and engine trouble.
A report from the PCG said the collision between MV St. Jhudiel and LCT Poseidon 23 occurred at around 2:52 p.m. off Barangay Looc in Mandaue City.
The MV St. Jhudiel, carrying 197 passengers, was en route to Cebu City, from Ormoc City in Leyte at that time while LCT Poseidon 23, with 17 rolling cargoes and 20 drivers and helpers, was on its way to Ormoc City, from Mandaue City in Cebu.
“Based on the initial investigation, it (MV St. Jhudiel) encountered steering casualty and engine trouble, leading to the collision,” Balilo told reporters.
The PCG said LCT Poseidon 23 tried to avoid the passenger vessel but was still hit by the latter.
Balilo said PCG investigators are trying to determine the sea worthiness of MV St. Jhudiel.
