Asian-Explorer

All 14 crewmembers of a Panamanian cargo vessel carrying 9,900.7 metric tons of iron one from Leyte bound for mainland China were rescued 34 nautical miles southeast of Binorong Point Catanduanes, the Coast Guard district office said. Capt. Leopoldo Laroya, district commander, said M/V Sun Spirits of Panamanian registry was owned by Yokohama Manning. At 1 p.m. Saturday, it sent distress signals as it was listing due to rough seas in the Pacific Ocean. The crew included Captain Park Cheol Fon and a fellow Korean along with 12 Indonesian nationals. Ens. Jomark Angue, Coast Guard operation officer, told Manila Standard that Laroya ordered the rescue whch was joined by a Navy vessel from Pasacao, Camarines Sur. Another Coast Guard vessel and a civilian ship from Cebu followed together with air force and CG helicopters. At 9:20 a.m. Sunday, MV Oriental Xanadu picked up 11 people on a life boat east of Rapu-rapu Island in Albay. Three others were rescued by an unidentified fishing boat that brought them to to the Coast Guard in Virac.