An apparent poor communication led to the collision of a motor boat and a tourist vessel off Cantilan, Surigao del Sur over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed on Sunday, Jan. 5.
The PCG said that the motorboat and tourist boat slammed into each other last Friday, Jan. 3, while they were in the vicinity waters of Barangay Consuelo.
“Based on the investigation, the incident was caused by a miscommunication on vessel signaling,” the PCG said.
Fortunately, personnel of the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Cantilan were conducting a coastal security patrol when the incident took place so they immediately launched a search and rescue operation (SAR) to save the distressed passengers and crew.
All 23 individuals from the two boats were rescued namely 16 passengers, the captain and a crew member of the tourist boat, the captain and four crew members of the motorboat.
However, a passenger of the tourist boat sustained a minor injury and had to be transported to an undisclosed hospital for a medical treatment.
“The rest of the rescued individuals were checked for injuries and found to be in good physical condition,” the PCG said.
The PCG said that the operators of the boats agreed to an amicable settlement and took responsibility for the damages of their vessels.
The boat operators also covered the medical expenses of the injured passenger.