Nine (9) crewmembers of M/V Sea Merchant who went missing onboard a life raft are being searched by the Coast Guard Batangas Search and Rescue teams while eleven (11) crewmembers of M/V Sea Merchant were safely rescued by the passing M/T Mactan Island after it has received the distress signal from the cargo vessel which sunk at the vicinity waters approximately five (5) nautical miles southeast of Malabrigo Point in Lobo, Batangas at around 6:45 AM yesterday, January 01.

Said cargo vessel was carrying 20,040 bags of cement and enroute to Antique from Bauan Port where they loaded 16,000 liter of diesel oil.

Inquiry from Mr. Celso Rey Baiza, Chief Officer of M/V Sea Merchant revealed that while their vessel was navigating towards Dumali Point, Oriental Mindoro on 01 January 2014 at 2 PM, they were suddenly battered by big waves and strong winds on her port. Her cement cargo shifted to the starboard side causing it to list by 10 degrees. The Master ordered his Chief Mate to arrest the list by shifting the ship’s heading while the engine crew tried to intake ballast water to port when three (3) consecutive big waves continued to batter the ship causing the, to take in more water. M/V Sea Merchant subsequently sank few minutes after the Chief Mate initiated the distress call at 4PM.

Said distress call was monitored by the Vessel Traffic Management Sytem (VTMS Batangas) and M/T Mactan Island, a tanker vessel plying near the area of incident.

Immediately, PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena directed SARV-001 (BRP San Juan) to augment in the conduct of the ongoing search and rescue operations.

M/T Mactan Island immediately conducted SAR operations and successfully rescued eleven (11) crewmembers onboard a life raft. Rescued survivors were identified as follows:

PCG rescue teams and M/T Mactan Island are still scouring the vicinity for the possible recovery of the remaining missing crew, including the master of M/V Sea Merchant.