CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – A water taxi carrying five foreign passengers collided with a fast craft vessel in the sea between Batangas and Mindoro, killing the taxi boat’s captain and one crew member on Wednesday, January 31.
MV Ocean Jet 6 (Jerry Alcayde)
Reports from the Philippine Ports Authority said the fast craft vessel MV Ocean Jet 6 left Batangas Port at about 11:26 a.m. for Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro when it figured into a collision with the Batangas-bound Hap and Go water taxi at 12:20 p.m. off Matoco Point near Verde Island.
The PPA-Port Management Office in Batangas immediately informed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) which conducted rescue operation.
Capt. Jerome Jeciel, Coast Guard Station Batangas commander, said two Filipino crew of Hap & Go were killed – the boat captain and a third mate.
Two other crew of Hap & Go were injured and brought to Puerto Galera and are now providing sworn statements regarding the maritime incident, PCG said.
Two of the four Chinese passengers were injured while the remaining two were in good physical condition.
The Swedish passenger decided to return home in Puerto Galera, the PCG said.
All the 115 passengers and 19 crew of Ocean Jet 6 were safe and in good physical condition when they arrived at Calapan Port, the PCG added.
Hap & Go 1 of Hap & Go Sea Transport Service Corp. is a water taxi service that transports passengers, mostly tourists from Berberabe port in Batangas to Puerto Galera, a tourist destination in northern Mindoro.
After the incident, Ocean Jet cancelled its 2:30 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. trips from Batangas to Calapan and the 4 p.m. trip from Calapan to Batangas.
An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the PCG.
Hap & Go 1 is being towed to Puerto Galera where its yard is located.
Authorities are coordinating with the bereaved families of the two crew.