Panamanian vessel with 21 Pinoys runs aground off Sarangani

A Panamanian-registered vessel with at least 21 Filipino crew on board ran aground off Sarangani province and may be stranded there until tugboats reach it Tuesday, the Coast Guard said Monday night. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente said the MV Double Prosperity had run aground off 2.5 nautical miles Kiamba town at 10 a.m. Sunday and has been stuck there since. “Galing ito India papuntang Australia nguni’t sa kasamaang palad mga 10 a.m. kahapon ay sumadsad ito 2.5 nautical miles off Kiamba, Sarangani. Nakasadsad pa rin ito (It was heading from India to Australia but unfortunately it ran aground 2.5 nautical miles off Kiamba in Sarangani and is still stuck)," Ricafrente said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the owner of the ship had arranged for tugboats to rescue the crew members, but added the vessels are not expected to arrive until Tuesday at the earliest. In the meantime, he said the Coast Guard has sent Special Operations Group divers’ teams to the area to help tow the vessel out of the area. Ricafrente said they are confirming initial information that human error caused the ship to run aground. Also, he said the Coast Guard teams will check for possible oil spills. “So far walang nakitang senyales ng langis (So far we have seen no sign of oil spills)," he said. - KBK, GMA News