TIM eMagazine Volume 2 Issue 8 | Page 12

Maritime PCG assists rescued crew of M/V Emerald Star in Cagayan P CG: Personnel from Coast Guard District Northeastern Luzon successfully transferred five rescued crew members from the ill fated M/V Emerald Star which sunk at vicinity waters Northeast off Sta. Ana, Cagayan around 6 A.M. last Sunday, 15 October at Casambalangan, Sta Ana, Cagayan.   Accordingly, the master and owner of one of the foreign vessels, MV SM Samarinda established contact with the Coast Guard around 10 P.M. last Saturday, and reported that they are conducting a search and rescue operation at reported location. Immediately, the said team proceeded to the rendezvous point and started the evacuation. The rescued crew were immediately brought to Gerry Filippetto Memorial Foundation Hospital for further medical treatment due to multiple physical injuries and head trauma sustained from the incident.   The rescued Indian national were identified as follows: Chief Cook Kharty Kerthikeyan, 46 yrs old; Deck Fitter Dasari Prakash Rao, 37 years old; Chief Officer Kishore Kumar, 46 years old; Trainee Rama Durai Umadurai, 23 years old, and Trainee Joseph Pragash, 24 years old. Based on the accounts of the survivors, M/V Emerald Star, a Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier loaded with nickel ore departed from Indonesia enroute to China.  Moreover, the vessel started listing to its port side and since the officers onboard failed to control the vessel, it started to sink. As per initial coordination, the Consul General of the Indian Embassy will provide a liaison officer to assist the needs of the rescued crew members.  Meanwhile, the Indian government will contact the company representative of the ill-fated vessel for further arrangements. coastguard.gov.ph 12