Two survivors of the ill-fated M/V Gulf Livestock 1 that capsized off the turbulent waters of Japan will be home on Saturday, the Department of Labor and Employment reported yesterday.
In a report to Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Labor Attache Elizabeth Marie Estrada of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Osaka said Chief Officer Eduardo Sareno and A/B Jay-nel Rosales, are flying home via Philippine Airlines PR 427 from Narita Airport and arriving in Manila Saturday at 5pm.
M/V Gulf Livestock 1 is a Panamanian-flag vessel owned by Gulf Navigation Holding based in the UAE sank early this month after experiencing engine trouble amid a typhoon in the seas in Southern Japan.
The cargo vessel had a 43-man crew: 39 Filipinos, 2 Australians, and 2 New Zealanders.
The vessel, loaded with 5,867 cattle left the Post of Napier in New Zealand on 14 August and was heading to the Port of Jingtan in Tangshan, China. It was expected to reach Jingtan on September 3. The last communication received from the vessel was a distress call in the early morning of September 2 to the Japan Coast Guard stationed at the Amami Ooshima Island in Kagoshima prefecture.
Chief Officer Sareno was rescued by the Japan Coast Guard in the morning of September 3 while Rosales was rescued in the afternoon of September 6. Both were confined at the Kagoshima-ken Kenritsu Ooshima Hospital and were later transferred to the Hotel New Amami while waiting for their repatriation to the Philippines.
POLO-Osaka constantly monitored the physical and mental well-being of the two, calling them regularly to provide emotional support.
POLO likewise sent each of the two survivors luggage full of clothing and toiletries and USD 200 for their needs. “Both are grateful and appreciative of the assistance provided by the Department,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, the Japan Coast Guard continues with the search and rescue operations to find the other 40 missing crew and vessel.
