Coast Guard Station Cuyo has issued an Enforcement Inspection Apprehension Report (EIAR) to M/L Rosita, a passenger/cargo vessel for violating HPCG Memorandum Circular 07-12 (carrying passenger in excess of the authorized passenger capacity) last December 22, 2015.

Said issuance resulted from the inspection conducted to the vessel after she accidentally went half-submerged while being towed to port of Cuyo.

Reports from Coast Guard District Palawan disclosed that on December 22 at 8:30pm, while transiting at vicinity 1.5 nautical miles North off Bisucay Island, Cuyo, Palawan, M/L Rosita encountered rough sea and strong winds which caused its port bow to crack and take-in seawater. Subsequently, the vessel encountered engine trouble and went dead on the water.

Immediately, the master established contact with CGS Cuyo and thereby sought for necessary rescue assistance.

At 8:40pm of the same day, CGS Cuyo immediately dispatched a search and rescue team together to conduct search and rescue operation onboard Mbca “Chritine Hazel” with 9.42 Gross Tonnage, owned and operated by Mr. Baltazar G Reignoso and skippered by Reynaldo Militante who are both residents of Barangay Tenga-Tenga, Cuyo, Palawan.

At 9:00pm, the team sighted the distressed vessel and immediately attempted to tow it but to no avail since the distressed vessel was larger than the towing vessel.

The team decided to transfer some passengers to the Mbca “Christine Hazel” while awaiting the arrival of the larger vessel requested for assistance.

At 9:40pm, M/L “Melinyo”, a 34.33 gross tonned-vessel, owned by Ms. Esperanza Rodriguez and skippered by Cerepino Rodriquez Jr arrived at the area and immediately towed the distress vessel to the port of Cuyo while other passengers remained onboard.

All the passengers were safely brought to Cuyo port in good physical condition.

Initial investigation revealed that on December 21 at 9:00am, M/L “Rosita” departed Roxas, Palawan bound for Cuyo, Palawan carrying one hundred twenty (120) sacks of rice and five hundred (500) cases of hard liquor (Tanduay) and with twenty Nine (29) passengers onboard as declared on its passenger manifest.

However, it was found out during the rescue operations the actual number of rescued passengers forty three (43), nine (9) crews and the boat captain.

The maximum allowable number of passenger which is twenty nine (29) only as clearly stated on the Passenger Ship’s Safety Certificate (PSSC) was significantly exceeded.

Further, it was revealed that while underway, the vessel embarked additional fourteen (14) passengers near Maraquit Island, Aracelli, Palawan and they regularly load excess passengers at night time.

Consequently, CGS Cuyo issued an enforcement inspection apprehension report (EIAR) for carrying passengers in excess of the authorized passenger capacity.

Further, the owner/operator was advised to settle above-mentioned violation and to file a Marine Protest relative to the incident. Likewise, the master was also advised to secure a certificate of seaworthiness from MARINA prior to her next voyage.

On December 23 at 10am, CGS Cuyo personnel together with SOU, MEPU and K9 personnel inspected the area where subject vessel is located to ensure that no sign of oil spill occurs while shoring repair is being conducted.