Joint elements of Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessel (SARV) 002 and MV Asia Pacific successfully rescued 693 passengers of M/V Trans Asia 5 after it encountered engine trouble at the vicinity waters 14 nautical miles southeast of Siquijor Island yesterday, December 16, 2013 at 5 AM.

Reports reaching the Coast Guard Action Center in Manila revealed that on December 16 at 7:30 AM, a certain Mr Norman of Magnum Radio station reported to Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao that subject vessel was enroute to Port of Cebu from Cagayan de Oro City and was loaded with 677 passengers, 16 crew and 5 rolling cargoes onboard when her driving gear shaft suddenly broke out and subsequently went dead on the water.

Immediately, Coast guard coordinated with the owner of Trans Asia Shipping Lines Inc. for the conduct of towing operations to the distressed passenger vessel.

M/V Asia Pacific, escorted by PCG SARV-002 jointly towed M/V Trans Asia at 7:30 PM of the same day and arrived safely back to Cagayan de Oro Port at 10:30 PM with no casualties or injuries reported.