24 rescued from ship off Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy has rescued seven crewmembers and 17 passengers of a motor launch that encountered engine trouble in the waters off Malaysia over the weekend.

Ensign Niño Fernando Cunanan, acting public affairs officer of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said a report received by the Maritime Situational Awareness Center-Western Mindanao showed that the distressed vessel drifted off Tagupi Island in Malaysia on Feb. 24.

Personnel of the Naval Task Group-Tawi-Tawi towed the vessel, ML Rihana, from Tanjung Labian in Malaysia to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The vessel was provided towing assistance en route to the anchorage area in Tanjung Labian.

Cunanan said the NFWM coordinated with the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi for the deployment of BRP Florencio Iñigo to render the necessary assistance.

Meanwhile, 20 crewmembers of the motor tanker MT Princess Empire that ran aground in the waters off Balingawan Point in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro were rescued yesterday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the motor tanker, which departed from Bataan, was bound for Iloilo when it encountered an engine problem.

“MT Princess Empress drifted toward the vicinity of the waters off Balingawan Point due to rough sea conditions until it was half-submerged,” the PCG said.

The ship was loaded with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel. – Roel Pareño, Robertzon Ramirez