PCG, Marina suspend sea voyage in areas affected by ‘Ompong’

PCG, Marina suspend sea voyage in areas affected by ‘Ompong’
Christia Marie Ramos, Daphne Galvez - September 13, 2018 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1031695/pcg-marina-suspend-sea-voyage-in-a...

Satellite image of Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) as of September 13, 2018, 11 am. Image from NOAA
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) have suspended sea voyages for all types of vessels at the ports of Cebu, Bohol and Zamboanga City on Thursday to ensure zero maritime accident and casualty as typhoon “Ompong” threatens most areas in the country.

The PCG and Marina have prohibited all ships and boats from leaving the port areas in Cebu, Bohol and Zamboanga City to prevent any untoward incident as the country experiences the weather disturbance.

“To ensure zero maritime accident and casualty as Typhoon Ompong (international name “Mangkhut”) further intensifies inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Ports of Cebu and Bohol will be disallowing any ship or boat to leave the port area effective at 12 noon today, 13 September 2018,” the PCG said in a safety advisory issued on Thursday.

In an advisory, Marina also imposed a temporary voyage suspension “for all types of vessels at the Zamboanga City Port plying the Zamboanga-Jolo route effective at 8:00 a.m. today, 13 September 2018, due to the worsening weather and sea condition in Zamboanga and Basilan areas.”

Vessels are allowed to take shelter at the port area through a written request but no passengers will be allowed to board.

The PCG also assured that the joint enforcement team from its agency and Marina had been deployed onshore and at sea to “ensure maritime safety and security. /jpv