PCG PR
On October 11, 2020 at about 07:48 in the morning, Coast Guard Station Pangasinan received a report involving F/B Aqua Princess with a call sign Pulang Araw with the Boat Captain and sixteen (16) crew onboard that capsized more or less 87 nautical miles west of Agno, Pangasinan.
Initial information bears that on October 2, 2020 at about 9:00 o’clock in the morning, F/B Aqua Princess, skippered by Mr Eddy Ariño, resident of Brgy Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan, departed Brgy Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan and went on fishing venture. At about October 7, 2020 in the afternoon, the said fishing boat started to be battered by big waves and eventually capsized at midnight. Two (2) crew members namely Mr Pedro Manalo Jr, 39 y/o and Mr Jerby Regala, 26 y/o with minor wounds were instructed by the Boat Captain to use their service boat and proceed to the nearest Coast Guard Station to call for help, leaving the Boat Captain and the remaining fourteen (14) crew clinging to the outrigger of the capsized fishing boat at the aforesaid area. In the morning of October 11, 2020, the two (2) crew members arrived at Brgy Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan and reported the incident to Coast Guard Sub-Station Infanta.
Upon receipt of the report from Coast Guard Station Pangasinan, Headquarters Coast Guard District North Western Luzon relayed the same to Higher Headquarters for the deployment of an appropriate vessel to conduct search and rescue operations and further requested for the issuance of Notice to Mariners alerting all transiting vessels within the vicinity to be on lookout and render necessary assistance to the said fishermen if found, therefore, enhancing the chances of locating the said fishermen and drastically cutting time of rescue.
On October 11, 2020 at 11:42 am, PCG Command Center received a telephone call from 911 Code 372 informing that a foreign bulk carrier M/V Kumano Maru rescued 15 fishermen at vicinity more or less 75 nautical miles west of Agno, Pangasinan. On or about 12:30 in the afternoon of the same date, coordination made with Capt. Bernard Tonding of M/V Kumano Maru confirmed that said recued fishermen are the Boat Captain and crew of F/B Aqua Princess. It was arranged that the said foreign bulk carrier that rescued the said fishermen will rendezvous with Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) at vicinity waters of Quinawan, Bagac, Bataan. Estimated time and date of arrival at rendezvous area is at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of October 11, 2020. Coast Guard Station Pangasinan will fetch the said rescued fishermen from the said PCG vessel at Cunanan Wharf in Manila back to Brgy. Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan.
