No sign of crew of grounded cargo ship in Surigao del Norte, Philippines

The Philippine Coast Guard is currently monitoring a maritime incident wherein a cargo vessel ran aground in Surigao del Norte province on Monday, April 19.

Eyewitnesses said the landing craft Cebu Great Ocean ended up on the shores of the town of Malimono at 15:38 local time on Monday.

Further, Coast guard personnel who deployed to the area in response to the grounding reported that there was no sign of any of the vessel’s 20-strong crew.

The coast guard’s Marine Environmental Protection Unit (MEPU) is currently scouring the area for any indications of oil leaks from the grounded vessel, which is laden with nickel ore and has approximately 2,000 litres of diesel in its fuel tanks.

The coast guard ordered the temporary suspension of the search for Cebu Great Ocean‘s crew at 19:30 on Monday due to poor visibility and rough sea conditions caused by Typhoon Surigae.

The coast guard’s Surigao del Norte station has meanwhile issued a notice to mariners to be on the lookout for the missing sailors.