A CARGO vessel ran aground in Masinloc town in Zambales on Saturday after it was battered by strong winds and big waves, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.
Twenty-two of the 24 crew members of LCT Aviva 80, a deck cargo ship sailing under the Philippine flag, were rescued by PCG and PNP personnel, said PCG communications officer Joy Gumatay.
Boat captain Alan Boyboy and chief mate Felix Gepillano Jr requested to remain in the vessel that got stuck off Barangay Bani.
Gumatay could not immediately say why Boyboy and Gepillano stayed in the ship but said the two were subject of rescue operations as of yesterday.
“Based on the investigation, the vessel, with 24 crew members on board, encountered strong winds and big waves, causing it to run aground,” said Gumatay.
Gumatay said a search and rescue team from the PCG and PNP “used a rope connected to a life raft to rescue the crew on board the distressed vessel.”
The 22 rescued crew members were brought to the Rural Health Unit of Masinloc town where they were declared in good condition.
Gumatay said initial inspection conducted by the PCG Marine Environment Protection Group “found no trace of spilled oil” in the vicinity.
