A domestic cargo vessel was reported drifting on its left side in waters off Naburol island in Guimaras Thursday.

Coast Guard Western Visayas district commander Commodore William Melad said they received a call from certain Gualberto Canaan around 1:40 a.m. Thursday informing them that the m/v Windstar, a 390 gross ton domestic cargo was seen listing by 20 to 25 degrees to port side late Wednesday evening.

Melad said the vessel was carrying 890 metric tons of bulk copra when it departed from Loboc port in Iloilo last Wednesday. The vessel was suspected to be taking in water from a hole in its hull.

The Coast Guard Station-Iloilo also received a call from the cargo vessel m/v Formost Trader which confirmed that the m/v was Windstar was listing.

The station instructed m/v Formost Trader to stand by near Windstar for assistance in case the situation worsens.

Coast Guard Station-Iloilo said it dispatched a DF- 311 search and rescue vessel to help the m/v Windstar.

The crew of the vessel is pumping out water to correct the listing.

The owner of the vessel has contacted underwater divers to survey its hull to locate possible rapture in its hull and will send tugboats to tow M/V Windstar.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armando Balilo said that underwater divers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) unit were also dispatched to inspect the distressed vessel’s hull.

He added that Coast Guard personnel onboard DF-311 will remain on standby until the vessel is finally safe.