Rough seas ground small vessels in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Several small sea vessels were stranded in some ports in Cebu province due to rough seas yesterday as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised a gale warning over the seaboards of the entire Visayas region.

The Cebu-based maritime unit of the Philippine Coast Guard also prohibited small sea crafts of less than 250 gross tons from venturing into the seas in compliance with an existing memorandum circular.

A few large vessels also decided to cancel their scheduled trips due to observable huge waves.

Coast Guard Station Cebu Commander Dionilett Ampil told The FREEMAN yesterday that about 35 vessels failed to travel owing to unfavorable sea conditions.

At least 10 passengers were left stranded at the port in Argao town yesterday while others decided to take bigger boats.

PAGASA alerted mariners as early as 5 a.m. yesterday.

Alicia Canasa, weather specialist of PAGASA’s Regional Services Division for Visayas, told The FREEMAN that rough seas were anticipated because of the strong winds caused by the intensified Northeast monsoon locally known as Amihan.

She said Amihan is the major weather system prevailing over the Visayas region that is affecting sea conditions over the coasts and seaboards here.

“The sea condition will be rough to very rough because of the Northeast Monsoon,” she said.

The intensity of its wind force could make waves surge from 3.4 to 4.5 meters, Canasa said. She added the peak of the average wave length can level a two-story building.

“Having this intensity, this is very dangerous for small fishing boats and other small vessels because of the large waves generated because of the surge of the Northeast monsoon,” she said.

Larger sea vessels are alerted as well and should not be complacent of the huge waves, she added. (FREEMAN)