By JEL SANTOS
There was no sea jacking incident involving a Philippine-flagged cargo vessel, which carried 2.5 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn, off the waters of Zamboanga Peninsula, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Thursday, July 18.
On July 16, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) received a report that cargo vessel, MV Jeselli, which had 17 crew, was allegedly sea jacked.
It was the vessel’s company that reported such an incident because they could not contact one of the crew aboard the MV Jeselli.
The company reported that the chief officer of the cargo vessel informed them that they were robbed when a wooden hull boat, known as a "batil," pulled alongside and stole an undetermined quantity of cargo.
“The Coast Guard boarding team confirmed with the Captain and crew on board that there was no sea jacking incident that transpired involving their vessel (MBV Jeselli),” the PCG said in a statement.
It also clarified that there was no incident involving a wooden hull boat or batil shipsiding and stealing their cargo.
Earlier Thursday, July 18, contact was established between BRP Capones (MRRV-4404) and MV Jeselli, leading to a coordinated Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operation upon the vessel's arrival near the Amadeo Fishing Corporation Wharf in General Santos City.
The vessel had initially departed from Bataan, anchored at the Tayud Anchorage Area in Cebu to load fresh water, and then proceeded to General Santos City.
The PCG said its boarding team carried out a safety inspection and examined the pertinent vessel documents on board.