MERIDIAN TRES

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Missing crew member found dead in the sea

The body of a crew member of the "Meridian Tres" was found floating in the sea off Nocnocan Island in Bohol. Benjamin Orola was identified by his daughter. Although the body already bloated, she identified her father through the latter’s sleeveless shirt, blue jersey pants and wedding ring. Orola, a crane operator, went missing after cargo vessel sank in the waters near Dawahon Island between the provinces of Bohol and Leyte, 28 of the 29 crew members and cargo escorts were saved by nearby vessels and Coast Guard teams that responded to the distress call.

Survivors taken to Cebu, sinking site to be cleared from container vans

Captain Napoleon Emphasis and 23 surviving crew members were brought to the Cebu Coast Guard station in the morning of Jan 18 to rest and undergo stress debriefing. The four others were scheduled to arrive in Cebu on Jan 19. A gale warning was issued on Jan 18, prohibiting sea vessels below 250 gross tons from sailing. But the "Meridian Tres" was cleared to leave the Port of Cebu for Tacloban since the vessel ohad a gross tonnage of 2,528. The lashing of the cargo were also inspected before it sailed. The water was calm although it was windy when they left the port. After six hours, around 8 p.m., extremely strong waves in quick succession pummeled the vessel in the waters near Dawahon Island between the provinces of Bohol and Leyte. Buffeted by strong winds and huge waves, Emphasis immediately called the company’s operations manager and sought permission for them to take shelter at the nearest port. His request was approved. But it was too late as the ship lost its balance following the collapse of its stockpile of 160 20-footer containers and five units 10-footers containers reportedly loaded with fertilizers, a car, and a forklift. The cargo vessel slowly tilted 45 degrees to port side. The 64-year-old captain immediately sent a distress call to nearby vessels which also alerted the Coast Guard stations for possible rescue operations. A crew member of the "Larcon Iloilo" relayed the distress call to Coast Guard substation in Hilongos town in Leyte which immediately alerted all Coast Guard Stations to get ready for a possible rescue operation. About 9 p.m., he was informed by Maasin Coast Guard Station that Emphasis ordered his crew to abandon ship. The owner was requested to send tugs and clear the area from container vans. The Philippine Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Command was sent to the area to monitor possible oil spills. Bunker fuel was reportedly used in the vessel’s main engine while its generators were run by diesel.

Former Bockstiegel-cargo ship "Nils B" sank off Philippines - one missing

The "Meridan Tres" sank on Jan 17, 2017, at a8 p.m. between the islands of Bohol and Leyte. The sinking was caused by a shift of the cargo of containers in rough weather conditions. 28 crew members were rescued, one was still missing. The survivors were rescued from a life rafts after they abandoned ship, as it was listing on its portside before it finally sank about 9 p.m. They were brought to the Coast Guard station in Cebu City on in the morning of Jan 18. Rescue operations were still ongoing for Benjamin Orola, crane operator, who remained missing. The vessel was heading from Cebu to Tacloban City in Leyte when the crew of the "Larcon Iloilo" received a distress call from thecaptain, Napoleon Emphasis, stating that the vessel was developing a list to port after it was battered by strong winds and waves while navigating at the Sto Niño Dive Site in Bohol. She had lost balance following the collapse of its stockpile of 160 20-foot containers and five units of 10-foot containers loaded with assorted goods. All nearby Coast Guard stations were immediately alerted for rescue operations. At 9 p.m., he was informed by the Maasin Coast Guard Station that Emphasis ordered his crew to abandon the vessel. Fortunately, crew members of three other vessels that were near the area responded to the distress call, among them the LCT "PMI-8", the "Filipinas Butuan" and "Ocean Kingdom". Report with photo: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/119640/one-29-crew-members-mv-meridian-tres-remains-missing http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/119670/monster-waves-blamed-for-cargo-ships-sinking