BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – No one was hurt after a ferry boat partially sank in Parola wharf in this city around 5 a.m. yesterday.
Iloilo Coast Guard commander Paterno Belarmino Jr. said MV Margaux 1 was docked at the wharf. However, it experienced tension due to tight mooring, causing the anchor to gradually loosen and the back portion of the vessel to sink.
“The rope wasn’t loose enough, so when the tide went low, it got stuck and seemed to be stranded. When the water level rose, the back part of the boat got filled and slowly sank,” Belarmino said.
The ferry boat’s capacity is 150 persons.
As of this writing, the ferry boat was surrounded by balloons or floaters, especially underneath, which will help lift it once it sinks again.
“We placed floaters, so once it’s high tide, it will float and can be removed from the stuck fiber boat section,” Belarmino said.
He further stated there were no violations with regards to the ferry boat but its sea worthiness will be checked before resuming operations./PN
