📋 Tender Overview
BOAC, Marinduque (PIA) -- Personnel of the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) in Gasan town promptly responded to a distress call from a passenger motorbanca that experienced engine failure about 5.5 nautical miles off the coast of Barangay Bachao Ibaba at around midday on January 9. CGSS Gasan Commander, PO1 Denmark Cueto, said the motorbanca, identified as MBCA Emarsan, was carrying 50 passengers and transporting 250 sacks of rice when the incident occurred. The vessel was en route from Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro, to Gasan, Marinduque. Upon our arrival, all passengers were in good condition and there were no reported injuries, Cueto said. Verification procedures were immediately conducted in accordance with standard protocol after the Coast Guard received a call from the vessels purser reporting a mechanical transmission failure while the motorbanca was approaching the Gasan pier. In response, a rescue team aboard another motorbanca was dispatched and immediately proceeded to the location of MBCA Emarsan. The distressed vessel was successfully towed to the Gasan port. All passengers safely disembarked upon arrival at the port, and the cargo of rice was unloaded without damage. According to motorbanca captain Francisco Frane, the incident was caused by a malfunction in the engines clutch lining, saying The clutch lining tightened and overheated, which resulted in the loss of engine rotation. The Coast Guard advised Frane that the motorbanca must undergo a sea trial once repairs are completed before it will be allowed to resume operations. Meanwhile, the PCG continues to intensify its active maritime safety operations to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels within Philippine waters. (DN/AS/JBG/PIA MIMAROPA-Marinduque/Photos by Coast Guard Station Marinduque)
