The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said there was no oil spill from the vessel M/V Ocean King 2 which encountered engine trouble while sailing from Lipata, Surigao City and tilted on its starboard side at the vicinity of Balong-Balong Point, Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte last July 28.

The ship, with its 119 passengers on board, were rescued by Coast Guard personnel and subsequently turned over to the local government of San Ricardo, Leyte.

Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo, PCG Commandant, directed Coast Guard District Commander Rolando Dizon to coordinate with the shipping company to lay oil spill booms and deploy Marine Environmental Protection Group personnel to closely monitor and render assistance to the shipping company to preempt any oil spill that may occur in the area.

Dizon instructed Coast Guard personnel in Maasin to advise the shipping company to send their salvor and insurance inspectors to determine the extent of damage and seaworthiness of the vessel.

He also directed Coast Guard Station Maasin to inform the regional office of the Maritime Industry Authority of the incident and to forward the ship’s manifest and crew list for record and reference. Also, the Master of the Vessel was advised to file a Marine Protest.

As this developed, the Cebu-based MV Indonesia of Trans Asia Shipping Lines, while on its way to Masbate from Cebu ran aground last night at the vicinity of Batolinao point, Mactan, Cebu. The ship with 181 passengers was subsequently towed to safety at Pier 5 in Cebu City.

Also on Friday, the PCG reported that one of the passengers aboard the MV Olivia of Montenegro Lines Incorporated was found dead just an hour prior to departure early morning of Thursday.

In a report to Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, Coast Guard District Western Visayas Commander William Melad identified the dead passenger as Johnny Tabuyoc, 26, a resident of Manduriao, Iloilo, and a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at PNP Aviation Security Command.

He was found dead, one hour prior departure from Dangay Port, Roxas, Mindoro as declared by the attending physician aboard the RORO vessel.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was an outpatient in a hospital in Manila and decided to go back to his home in Iloilo together with his family.

Upon arrival of the vessel at Caticlan Jetty Port, the victim was transferred to an awaiting van with PNP Aviation Security Command personnel and his wife and was brought to Caticlan Baptist Hospital for autopsy and proper disposition.

The Coast Guard Station Caticlan advised the Master of M/V Maria Olivia to file a Marine Protest as soon as possible.