GROUNDED CRUISE SHIP TO BE RESCUED IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is planning in advance to rescue a Panamanian cruise ship that ran onto the shore off General Santos City on Friday.

The MV Pacific was moving from Mexico City to Singapore when her storage fuel finished. She had to use diesel fuel and ran aground while preparing to approachMakar port to refuel. According to a Coast Guard official, the ship hit a place with little depth while she was about to reach the area for vessels to anchor.

The rescue operation is being headed by Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., and is occurring about 150 meters off Barangay Dadiangas West, close to a contested coastal community. Preliminary examinations have proven that the vessel’s 21 officers and crew, all born in India, appeared that did not know the area. The Coast Guard is also investigating into the harm to the coral reefs of the area, inflicted by the ship’s landing.

Pacific (IMO number 7027411 and MMSI 341554000) had no travelers at the time of the incident and is reportedly planned for decommissioning in India.

Image from the scene thanks to Raming Lee Garde.

Source: http://www.vesselfinder.com/news/2631-Grounded-cruise-ship-to-be-rescued-in-the-Philippines