Navy's Landing Craft rescues Motor Launch Vessel

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (August 3, 2017) - Another Philippine Navy Ship rescued a Motor Launch Vessel suffered from machinery breakdown at vicinity waters off San Ramon, Zamboanga City on Tuesday afternoon, (August 1), military official said.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) information officer Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao, disclosed that they received a report from a distressed vessel at about 2p.m. on August 1, 2017. NFWM through Naval Task Force 61 (NTF61) immediately directed BRP Ivatan (LC298) to verify the incident and render necessary assistance. BRP Ivatan immediately departed Ensign Majini Pier, Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City.

RADM Medina said that while transporting to the location of the said vessel, LC298 led by Lt. Commander Alfredo Todio PN, established communication with the distressed vessel through cellphone and marine band. The vessel was identified as ML Moonlight Sheera, a cargo vessel with 8 crew members and the Boat Captain was known to be Albisil Sapie. According to the boat captain, while enroute to Iloilo City to transport their cargos composed of assorted fruits, the vessel incurred a machinery breakdown from a broken propeller shaft.

He said that LC298 arrived to the said location of the distressed vessel and immediately provided towing line and conducted astern towing. ML moonlight Sheer was towed to Wayvin Pier, Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City as requested by the Boat Captain for expeditious unloading of cargoes on board.

Last July 26, 2017, the Navy ship Ba484 rescued a distressed vessel, TB Zamboanga Sun that was reported to be submerged in water. The crew members of the said vessel were ferried back to Zamboanga City Pier, he added.

RADM Medina further said that NFWM will always be ready to provide necessary assistance to vessels in the area while conducting patrolling to its area of responsibility in the Western Mindanao region.