ASSISTANCE. Thirty-four rescued seafarers get help from the Philippine Coast Guard at the Port of Cebu on Wednesday (Jan. 27, 2021). The seafarers, including two Filipinos, were rescued by transiting MV Golden Aspirant after their Korean fishing vessel caught fire off the waters of Panganiban in Catanduanes at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said its BRP Suluan assisted 34 seafarers who were rescued from a burning Korean fishing vessel on Wednesday.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, the PCG said the Korean fishing vessel with 22 Indonesians, 10 Koreans, and two Filipinos on board was on its way from Busan, South Korea to Montevideo, Uruguay for fishing operations when the crew noticed thick black smoke coming from the engine room which eventually led to a “high fire break out” around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
“When the captain declared 'abandon ship' at around 03:00 a.m., transiting vessel, MV Golden Aspirant immediately conducted rescue operations and maintained active coordination with the PCG for further assistance,” the PCG said.
The incident occurred off the waters of Panganiban, Catanduanes.
After the seafarers were rescued by MV Golden Aspirant, the PCG said BRP Suluan transported them to the Port of Cebu where they received further help through the One-Stop-Shop Cebu Team and the Philippine Red Cross by facilitating swab sample collection, provided with hot meals, and inspected and sanitized their baggage.
“Afterwards, they were transported to a designated quarantine facility while waiting for their RT-PCR test results,” the PCG said.
As of Thursday, it said the survivors are being monitored by their shipping company’s representative in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infections Diseases in Region 7 and the South Korea Consulate based in Cebu City. (PNA)
