PCG: Six fishermen have safely returned to Mariveles, Bataan after they were successfully rescued by the crew of a foreign cargo vessel at the vicinity waters of North Harbor, Manila last Saturday, September 20.

The survivors were onboard two separate fishing boats and were fishing in Corregidor Island when both encountered engine trouble and were swept by rough seas near MV Westerkade, a general cargo ship anchored 5NM off Pier 2 in North Harbor, Manila.

The crew of MV Westerkade found M/Bca Grace and M/Bca Enrico floating alongside their ship and noticed that the latter has already capsized.

Upon rescuing the fishermen, Capt. Levchenko of MV Westerkade immediately informed the Vessel Traffic Management System in Manila to coordinate the transfer of the survivors.

The rescued fishermen were identified as Ericson Bais, 36 years old; Joel Abia, 24 years old; Joven Arina , 25 years old; Romulo Montana, 58 years old (all crew of Mbca Enrico); Andrew Platetas, 27 years old; and Francis Mayor, 30 years old, (crew Mbca Grace) all residents of Cabcabin, Mariveles, Bataan.

The personnel of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Manila informed Coast Guard National Capital Region-Central Luzon (CGDNCR-CL) regarding the incident. Personnel of Coast Guard Port State Control (CGPSC) were then immediately alerted to fetch the survivors.

Platetas, Mayor and Bais were transferred to Coast Guard patrol craft, DF-334 while the rest will be also brought to Coast Guard Medical Service (CGMed Svc) for further medical assessment.

Abia, Arina and Montaña were provided with meals and bus fares yesterday for their trip back home in Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan.