Fast Craft Collides with Cargo Ship in Site of Deadly Collision Nearly 2 Years Ago

A Bohol-bound fast craft late Wednesday afternoon collided with a cargo vessel at Lauis Ledge off Talisay City in Cebu, the site of a deadly collision almost two years ago.

Cargo vessel MV Our Lady of Faith and fast craft Starcraft 9 collided at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station said.

The cargo ship, manned by Captain Jose Adaptar, was en route to Bacolod City from the port in the City of Naga while the fast craft, under Captain Roman Pialago, was bound for Tubigon, Bohol.

On Aug. 16, 2013, the passenger ferry St. Thomas Aquinas and cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete collided near Lauis Ledge, killing 116 passengers and crew, with some 750 survivors.

All the 262 passengers and crew of the Starcraft 9 were safe, except for its chief engineer Romeo Astillejo, who fell overboard during the collision, but was rescued by his fellow crewmen.

Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation applied first aid on Astillejo after the Starcraft 9 returned to Cebu City Pier 3 at 6:15 p.m. and rushed him to a hospital.

The collision damaged the fast craft’s right portion but Our Lady of Faith suffered no significant damage and her crew was safe.

PCG Central Visayas District chief-of-staff Weniel Azcuna said they are investigating the two captains and crew of the vessels.

He said there is a “need to monitor the traffic situation” in Lauis Ledge because it is the entry and exit point of vessels heading to or from Cebu.

“Vessels converge in that area and there is always a crossing situation there,” said Azcuna. (PNA) FPV/EB/PJN