Cargo vessel ran aground off waters of Barcelona, Sorsogon

By Celso Amo LEGAZPI CITY --- Cargo vessel MV San Roque ran aground off the waters of Barangay Layog in Barcelona, Sorsogon Monday morning due to inclement weather. The cargo vessel with 1,898 gross tonnage of San Roque Shipping Lines with home port at Cagayan de Oro City was enroute to Virac port in Catanduanes from Tubay, Agusan del Norte when it ran aground at about 10:00 a.m. due to strong current, according to PO3 Erwin Morada of Barcelona police. The vessel has no cargo when it ran aground and at present it is tilted to one side. It was supposed to be loaded with heavy equipment from Virac, Catanduanes. The cargo ship was skippered by Anthony Calimpong y Dano with fifteen crew from Oroquita, Misamis Occidental. The captain said he ordered to drop a forward starboard anchor but was accidentally cut, resulting in the aft of the vessel stuck on large stone. He said the captain is waiting for a tug boat from Tabaco City to pull the vessel out to sea during high tide. The cargo vessel was about 300 meters from the shoreline. “The captain did not know that there is a treacherous current off the waters of Barcelona which experienced captains have to avoid so their ships will not run aground,” he explained. Morada said there was no coral reef damage. “But they have to ask for clearance from our office before they will be allowed to sail,” he added. At present, the captain and the crew are staying at the Barcelona police office.