About 22 crew members were safely evacuated by the Philippine Coast Guard and local authorities, after a bulk carrier, carrying 22 crew and loaded with 20,000 bags of cement, ran aground approximately 100 yards Southeast of Lighthouse Station Tubigan Point, San Jose, Antique, on Monday.
A radio call from the nearby sailing vessel ‘Queen of Charity’ revealed that the ‘Star Liberty’ encountered distress at the abovementioned area.
In response, the Deployable Response Team (DRT) of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Antique together with Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Emergency Response Services (EMS) were alerted to render necessary assistance.
Upon arrival, some of the crew had already jumped off the vessel and incurred abrasions from corals in the area.
Subsequently, 12 survivors were brought to the local Hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, another 10 survivors were brought to the evacuation center for first aid assistance, the Coast Guard informed.
At the time of the incident, the vessel was en route from San Fernando, Cebu, to San Jose, Antique. ‘Star Liberty’ arrived and anchored at 150 meters South of Light Station Tubigan Point, San Jose, Antique, but around 09:30 AM on 03 September, she was dragged to the shallow portion of San Jose Port, as a result from big waves and strong current prevailing in the area and grounded.
Personnel of CGS Antique personnel advised the Captain of M/V Star Liberty to file a Marine Protest and secure a Certificate of Seaworthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority. CGS Antique and the local residents provided foods and cloths to the survivors.
