A MOTOR tanker caught fire on Sunday morning in the Alpha Anchorage Area in Batangas, killing one individual at the scene, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
First to respond and aid the troubled M/T Sea Horse around 9 a.m. was the PCG’s multi-role response vessel, BRP Bagacay, and personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The Coast Guard Station Batangas also coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to help in firefighting efforts.
Tugboats Motor Tug Great Lark, Motor Tug Sedar 7, and Motor Tug Sedar 8 also assisted in efforts to contain the fire until it was declared fire out at 11:08 a.m.
While the PCG confirmed the death of one person in the incident, the identity and circumstances surrounding the event were still under investigation as of press time.
The Marine Environmental Protection Group Batangas has coordinated with Petron Company to prepare for the containment of a possible oil spill following the incident.
Meanwhile, passenger ship M/V Our Lady of Fatima 03 had to be towed to Nasugbu, Batangas on Saturday after encountering engine trouble that left it dead in the water for several hours.
All its 54 passengers and nine crew members were declared safe by the Command Center of Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog.
The vessel departed Port of Tilik on Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro at 7:30 a.m. but encountered engine trouble while transiting between Ambil Island and Fortune Island around 9:30 a.m.
Following a distress call, its sister ship M/V Lubang Express, set out from Port of Tilik at 2 p.m. and towed the vessel to the Wawa Port in Nasugbu, safely docking at 6:20 p.m. — NCB
