The Coast Guard Maasin has secured the grounded Ro-Ro vessel M/V Ocean King II by applying around it the oil spill boom. This is what has been revealed by the Master Chief Petty Officer Manulito Dancel of the Coast Guard Maasin during the interview by the Southern Leyte Balita.

He also added that they already had requested the Coast Guard Maritime Environmental Protection Group – Central Eastern Visayas. The oil response team had been sent already to the Ro-ro port terminal in Barangay Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.

Last July 28, there are 147 passengers and crews of the M/V Ocean Kings II were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard and San Ricardo Rescue Team after the roro vessel run aground in the coast of Barangay Benit, San Ricardo at early afternoon.

According to Master Chief Petty Officer Dancel, the ferryboat left  Lipata (Surigao City) Ferry Terminal at 12 noon on that day. When the vessel reached the Balongbalong point, it was hit by the 7 feet (estimated) high waves that caused the water to ingress.

It was learned that grounding the ship at the coast of the Barangay Benit is the decision of the ship captain, Captain Zaldy Angot, upon learning that his ship had problem in turning back and that the water had entered already the ship. So instead of going straight to Liloan Ferry Terminal the ship captain decided to revert its route to the Benit Roro Port but did not reach the port, instead run aground.

Out of 121 passengers, 2 of them are children and the ship was carrying 16 rolling cargoes including 2 buses.

It was also learned that the M/V Ocean King II was the one boarded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the inaugauration of the Benit Roro Port of San Ricardo, Southern Leyte on April 2009.

(Report by Jade G. Nombrado/ English Translation by Sustines Laplana /Image credit to Southern Leyte Balita)

About the Contributor:

Southern Leyte Balita is a weekly newspaper in Southern Leyte with its office at Kangleon St., Tagnipa, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Tel. No. (053) 570-9500. The Southern Leyte Balita publishes announcements and notices like the Sales in Extra-Judicial Foreclosure Cases, Judicial Notices such as Special Proceedings, Court Orders and Summonses and other notices that are required to be published based on PD 1079.