‘Found adrift, but alive:’ PH confirms rescue of Filipino crew member of missing ship

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government confirmed on Thursday the rescue of one of the 39 Filipino crew members of a cargo vessel that recently went missing off the coast of Japan.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Osaka, in a report to the Department of Labor and Employment on, identified the rescued Filipino as Chief Officer Edwardo Sareno.

“One Filipino crew member was found adrift at sea, but alive,” the POLO said.

The Japanese Coast Guard continues to search for the other missing crew using four rescue patrol boats, two airplanes and divers from the Haneda Airbase Special Rescue Team, it added.

According to POLO, the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship made a distress call from Amami Oshima Island in Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture.

The vessel was carrying 43 crew members, including 39 Filipinos, two New Zealander, one Australian and one Singaporean.

“Typhoon No. 9 was approaching the surrounding waters at that time,” the POLO noted.

The freighter was reportedly loaded with cattle and left the port of Napier in New Zealand and was heading to the port of Tangshan in China, it further said.

In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it continues to monitor the rescue mission for the crew.

“The Consulate General in Osaka is monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Japanese Coast Guard, which is launching a second search and rescue mission prior to the expected incoming typhoon,” the DFA said.

The DFA, together with the POLO, is also closely coordinating with Korpil Ship Management and Manning Corp., which is the local manning agency of the Filipino seafarers. [ac]