Vessel Drags Anchor and Collides, Philippines

Coast Guard Action Center Manila received report today that a cargo vessel carrying bags of fertilizer sank in Iloilo Strait around 6am Sunday, 19 January.

Reports disclosed that MV Sportivo a 663 gross ton cargo vessel owned by Seen Sam Shipping dragged its anchor and collided with another vessel MV Jehan. The vessel which homeported at Cebu with 29 crew members onboard was about to transport 28, 000 bags of fertilizer to Palawan when the incident occurred.  All officers and crew members were rescued and in good physical condition.

Immediately following the incident, the Marine Environmental Protection Unit of Western Visayas was dispatched to monitor possible oil spills in the area as the vessel was loaded with 12,000 liters of bunker fuel.

ABS-CBN news reports that the cargo ship spent the night at Guimaras Strait due to the bad weather brought about by tropical depression Agaton, but strong waves and winds caused its anchor to snap, eventually leading to its collision with MV Giana.

The incident is now being investigated.