Antique: Crew of grounded cargo vessel gets aid

Crew of grounded cargo vessel gets aid
Annabel Consuelo Petinglay November 6, 2019 https://seafarertimes.com/2018-19/node#overlay=node/add/article

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- Three crew members of the grounded cargo vessel MV Gemini got financial aid from the Antique provincial government during the People’s Day at the capitol in San Jose de Buenavista on Tuesday.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, who led the distribution of the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to 77 persons to include the three crewmen, said the provincial government extends help not only to Antiqueños but also to people who are in dire need from other places.

“We are extending our help to the crew members of MV Gemini who are stranded in our shore,” she said.

The crewmembers, residents of Cebu and La Union, onboard the cargo vessel left Mindoro last April 2, 2019 to supposedly deliver 24,500 sacks of salt to their concessionaires in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and Tagbilaran, Bohol.

While in the vicinity of Barangay Magcalon, San Jose de Buenavista, the vessel ran aground on April 3 due to the seawater that entered their boat.

“Our vessel still remains about 150 meters away from the shoreline of Barangay Magcalon waiting for a tugboat to be sent by our shipping company,” Carlos Lumapas, one of the crewmen, said in a later interview.

He said the PHP5,900 given to them could be of help to buy food considering the food allowance from their company is delayed.

Lumapas added that the salt they were supposed to transport had melted.

He said their company, 912 Samar Sunshine Company based in Cebu City, has informed them it was applying for a special permit to navigate with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

When the weather improves, they could send a tugboat to tow the grounded vessel to Cebu City.

“Only three of us crewmembers have remained to assist the tugboat hopefully within this month,” he said. (PNA