By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY — A cargo ship sank last Tuesday while being loaded with bags of cement in a port in San Fernando town, southern Cebu.
MV Eva Mary Grace vessel (Biliran Island Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Twelve crew members of MV Eva Mary Grace were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard.
The vessel’s crane operator, Manuel Incarnacion, was injured and was treated at the South General Hospital in Naga City.
Lt. Jr. Grade Michael Encina, Central Visayas Coast Guard spokesperson, said the incident happened at 4:30 p.m. at the SEDC Port in Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando.
The vessel was skippered by Capt. Michael Zeta.
Encina said the crew reported that “the crane was lifting the last batch of cement bags when a swell hit the ship that caused it to tilt and capsize.”
“We will further investigate their claims that huge waves caused the vessel to sink because there was no gale warning yesterday (Tuesday).
There was a low pressure area but it was far from Cebu,” he said.
Encina said the Coast Guard will check the ship’s the stability and balance.
“If proven that there were some lapses, they will have legal liabilities,” he said.
A oil spill boom was deployed around the waters where the ship sank.
“There’s oil spill but very minimal and it has been contained. The vessel was carrying diesel oil which dissolves quickly,” Encina said.
Salvage operations began almost immediately. Drums were attached to the ship to serve as floaters to the vessel so it could be brought back to the surface.