18 crew of foreign cargo vessel that ran aground all safe

Updated as of 1:12pm

All 18 crew of a foreign vessel that ran aground at the waters off Talisay City are safe.

According to Lt. Jr. Grade Michael John Encina, spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas (PCG-7), their Cebu Station received a call from their Vessel Management Traffic System (VS) about MV “Arikun” that ran aground near the vicinity of the Lauis Ledge Light House in the said city at 7:30 a.m. today.

The crew on board include 13 Chinese, 3 Vietnamese and 2 Burmese, who were all checked by PCG’s medical team to ensure their condition.

Encina said the strong winds and current in the area may have caused the ship to ran aground.

A Marin Environmental Protection Unit and PCG divers were also deployed to check if there’s a possible oil spill in the area.

Fortunately, Encina said the 287,167 liters of fuel is intact and there’s no leakage seen from the vessel.

“Wala pong report na may nadamage sa marine environment natin,” he told Bohol Island News.

The vessel, which was bound for the Port of Cebu came from the Port of Davao where it carries 4,210 tons of wheat.

Encina added that they will wait for the highest tide and with the assistance of tug boats guide it to dock at the Cebu International Port (CIP).