Two injured as ship catches fire off Cebu

July 24, 2020

Two persons were injured after their vessel caught fire off the waters of Cebu province on Thursday night.

Commodore Armando Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman, said the Coast Guard personnel onboard BRP Suluan responded to a fire onboard MV Filipinas Dinagat  5.5 nautical miles east of Binongkalan Point, Cebu around 10:45 pm.

Balilo said the roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ship owned by Cokaliong Shipping Lines was totally engulfed in fire when the PCG arrived.

“Immediately, the survivors were put in a motorbanca that transported them to the nearest port for further assistance,” he said.

“The ship captain, Captain Joel Villanueva and three other ship crew (identified as) C/M (chief mate) Bonifacio Despi, 2/E Marclein Estrobo, and Winifredo Ceballos, who were rescued by BRP Suluan  remained in the vicinity aboard said PCG vessel to attend to the ill-fated ship,” he added.

“At around 1:00 a.m.July 24, personnel from the PCG Medical Team and Coast Guard Station – Northern Cebu provided medical assistance to 41 of the 45 survivors who safely arrived at Danao Port, Cebu,” he said.

The shipowner reported that all passengers and ship crew aboard MV Filipinas Dinagat were all safe and accounted for, hence the declaration of a ‘zero-casualty’ maritime incident, Balilo added.

Balilo said MV Filipinas Dinagat which left Pier 1, Cebu City at around 7 p.m. on July 23  was on its way to Palompon, Leyte when the incident occurred.

Investigation about the cause of fire is ongoing, he said. Robina Asido/DMS