MV St. Thomas Aquinas
History | |
---|---|
Japan | |
Name | Ferry Sumiyoshi |
Owner | Meimon Car Ferry K.K. |
Operator | Meimon Car Ferry K.K. |
Port of registry | Kitakyushu, Japan |
Route | Osaka – Shin-moji, Kitakyushu |
Ordered | 1 January 1972[2] |
Builder | Onomichi Dockyard Co, Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan |
Yard number | 239 |
Launched | 19 December 1972 |
Completed | 1973 |
In service | March 1973 |
Out of service | 1992 |
Identification | IMO number: 7304663[1] |
Fate | Sold to Aboitiz Shipping Corporation |
Philippines | |
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry | Manila, Philippines |
Route | Manila – Cebu – Iligan – Butuan – Nasipit (2013) |
Maiden voyage | 1992 |
Out of service | 16 August 2013 |
Fate | Sank following collision with MV Sulpicio Express Siete |
General characteristics [2] | |
Type | ROPAX Ferry |
Tonnage | |
Length | 138.61 m (455 ft) |
Beam | 22.15 m (72.7 ft) |
Draft | 5.80 m (19.0 ft) |
Ramps | 1 ramp (stern-port side) |
Installed power | 2x 14 cyl. MAN-Mitsubishi diesel marine engines (2 × 5,670 kW) |
Propulsion | Two shafts; fixed pitch propellers |
Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
Capacity |
|
MV St. Thomas Aquinas was a
Service history
The ferry was named after the Catholic
It was launched and originally operated in 1973 by Meimon Car Ferry (later as Meimon Taiyo Ferry) (
Sinking
Collision
On Friday, 16 August 2013, St. Thomas Aquinas departed from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. At approximately 21:00 PHT (13:00 UTC), it was heading into the port at Cebu City via the Cebu Strait when it collided with the MV Sulpicio Express Siete (IMO 7724344), a cargo ship owned by the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation that was leaving port, approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from Talisay, Cebu.[7]
St. Thomas Aquinas immediately began to take on water, prompting the captain to order an "Abandon Ship" announcement.
At the time of the collision, St. Thomas Aquinas was carrying 715 passengers (58 were infants) and 116 crew members. Many passengers were asleep at the time or otherwise had trouble finding their way to the deck in the dark.[8] A spokesperson for 2Go said there was a high probability that some passengers were in the area of impact and were trapped by the damage.[9] The Sulpicio Express Siete, which did not sink, had 36 crew members on board[7] and was severely damaged at the bow in the accident.[3]
Local fishermen saw several flares–a sign of distress–being launched from St. Thomas Aquinas and helped with initial rescue efforts. "We just picked up the survivors and left the dead in the water," said a rescuer. "I heard screams and crying."[3] The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) conducted rescue efforts. Rescued passengers were taken to local hotels.[9]
Casualties
On Saturday, 17 August 2013, divers began the process of recovering bodies from the ship, which lay in 30 metres of water, but suspended operations later in the day due to safety concerns. 31 people were confirmed dead with 172 others missing as of midday, when rescue operations were suspended due to rough seas.[9] By 18 August, there were 35 confirmed deaths and 85 others missing as a result of the accident.[10] On 19 August, the Coast Guard confirmed 55 dead and 65 missing with 750 rescued.[11] Rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by bad weather.[12]
Many of the survivors were sickened after swallowing seawater and oil believed to have leaked from St. Thomas Aquinas.[8]
Cause
In a statement,
Maritime accidents in the Philippines are common due to a combination of bad weather, poor maintenance, and lax enforcement of
Official investigation
A Special Board of Marine Inquiry was opened on 23 August in Cebu City, led by Commodore Gilbert Rueras of the Philippine Coast Guard.[14] The captains of the MV St Thomas Aquinas and the Sulpicio Express Siete testified, as did Captain Galipher Ian Faller, captain of a Trans-Asia Shipping Lines cargo ship in the area, the Trans Asia Nine.[14] Captain Galipher of the Trans Asia Nine testified that the Sulpicio Line Siete was in the inbound lane instead of the outbound lane.[14]
Long-term implications
Oil and fuel are leaking from the shipwreck.
See also
- List of maritime disasters involving the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation
- List of maritime disasters in the Philippines
- List of shipwrecks in 2013
References
- Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- ^ a b "St. Thomas Aquinas (7229869)". ABS Record. American Bureau of Shipping. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "At least 28 dead, more than 200 missing after ferry sinks in Philippines". Fox News. AP. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ "Ferry sinking death toll at 108; 29 missing". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ^ "At Least 17 Dead After Ferry Collides with Cargo Ship in Philippines". World Maritime News. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Philippines ferry Thomas Aquinas sinks at Cebu". BBC. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Philippines ferry Thomas Aquinas sinks, many missing". BBC. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Cebu sea mishap death toll rises to 31; 172 still missing". The Philippine Star. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ Quiano, Kathy; Hackney, Deanna (18 August 2013). "34 dead, 85 unaccounted for after Philippines boat collision". CNN.
- ^ Mullen, Jethro (19 August 2013). "Death toll hits 55 in Philippines ferry disaster". CNN. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- ^ "Philippines ferry crash death toll rises". BBC. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (18 August 2013). "Ferry disaster is 5th tragedy for Philippine firm". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Mayol, Ador Vincent and Joy Cherry Quito (24 August 2013). "3 captains testify on Lawis Ledge collision". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d Quiano, Kathy; Mullen, Jethro (20 August 2013). "Oil spill from sunken ferry in Philippines hurts coastline, fishermen". CNN.