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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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FilIPINO
seamen OF ship aground in BALTIC SEA confirmed safe
18
January 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Sweden Victoria S. Bataclan reported
to the Department of Foreign Affairs that MV Golden Sky, which is manned by a
largely Filipino crew, ran aground due to bad weather on 15 January 2007 in the
Baltic Sea, some five kilometers off Ventspils in northwestern Latvia, and that
its 23 Filipino crew members are safe.
MV
Golden Sky, a Cypriot-flagged cargo vessel owned by the Greece-based Samios
Shipping, has a crew of 23 Filipinos and a Ghanaian. The fifteen Filipinos and
one Ghanaian were evacuated by the Latvian Air Force and Swedish rescue
helicopters and are presently billeted at the Hotel Ostina in the port of
Vestpils. The Filipino Captain Reynaldo Mortel and seven other Filipino crew
members remain on board the ship, on the decision of Captain Mortel, presumably
for salvage operations.
The
crewmen remaining with Captain Mortel are Chief Mate Camilo Carsano, Chief
Engineer Perlo Andrino, 3rd Engineer Rene Capanas, 4th
Engineer Jose Samson Chiva, Electrician Reynaldo Petras, Bosun Orbito Bayaban,
and AB Raji Jimster Bonite.
Embassy
officials have spoken with representatives of Samios Shipping in Greece, and
received assurances of the crew’s safety. Ambassador Bataclan has spoken with
Second Mate Erik Tumanong at the Hotel Ostina, who confirmed that none of the
ship’s crew was injured or in any danger.
The
16 crewmembers who were flown from the ship to the mainland’s port of Vestpils
are:
1.
Second Mate Erik Tumanong;
2.
Third Mate Ronald Loreno;
3.
2nd Engineer Ernesto de la Cruz;
4.
Fitter Victor Deke (Ghanaian);
5.
Fitter Robelito Ycong;
6.
AB Noel Bagon;
7.
AB Ruiz Faciolan;
8.
AB Omilio Sarno;
9.
Deck Cadet Mark Anthony Balinget;
10.
Deck Cadet Rodolfo Landicho, Jr.;
11.
Deck Cadet Ramie Magno;
12.
Deck Cadet Manuel Villanueva;
13.
Oiler Ariel Amba;
14.
Oiler Dante Leja;
15.
Oiler Rico Tabunan; and
16.
Cook Cielito Risma.
Arrangements
are being made for the eventual repatriation of the remaining crew members.
Ambassador
Bataclan assured the Department that the Embassy will continue to monitor the
situation of the crew on board.
Based
on Latvian news reports, the cargo vessel carries 25,000 tons of mineral
fertilizers on its hold, 446 tons of residual fuel oil and 45 tons of diesel
fuel.
Oil
products are reportedly leaking from the ship, fuelling fears of an oil spill.
This prompted the visit of Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvïtis,
Ventspils Mayor Aivar Lembergs and members of the Crisis Management Council to
the coast. Representatives of the ship owner are in Ventspils to discuss the
situation with Latvian authorities.
Current
weather conditions prevent a proper inspection of the ship, which the State
Border Guard is observing from the coast using special equipment.
Samios Shipping's Technical Superintendent has communications access to the ship. END
/jay
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