Cargo ship crew of 20 missing near Philippines

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—Philippine Coast Guard personnel have started scouring the West Philippine Sea off Ilocos Norte for the crew of a cargo ship that was feared may have sunk near Burgos town early Saturday.

Lieutenant Dennis Rafal, commander of the Coast Guard’s Currimao station in Ilocos Norte, said a plane took off from the Laoag International Airport at 2 p.m. Saturday to conduct an aerial survey of  the area, which is about 107 nautical miles west northwest of Cape Bojeador in Burgos.

“What happened to the ship is not clear yet. We were just informed that the ship’s captain declared [that he was] abandoning ship,” he said.

Rafal said the ship, MV Oceanic Union, had 20 crew members on board.

A wire service report said the ship came from Shanghai, China, and was heading to the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales.

Senior Superintendent Marlo Chan, Ilocos Norte police director, said his office was closely coordinating with the Coast Guard and was prepared in case there would be a need for rescue operations.

Reports from the military’s Northern Luzon Command based in Tarlac City said the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center sought aid from the Philippine Coast Guard through a fax message.

Captain Jovily Cabading, Nolcom spokesperson, said police offices in Laoag City and the towns of Burgos and Pasuquin had been alerted to help the Coast Guard in rescue operations. With a report from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon