Cargo vessel sank off Calbayog, Western Samar

Here's a report I got from the Coast Guard website:

(06 August 2009) The Coast Guard detachment in Allen, Samar disclosed today that M/V Queen Elizabeth-IX, a cargo vessel with three (3) officers and seven (7) crew members onboard and home ported in Cebu City, sank at the vicinity of Calbayog City, Samar last August 3, 2009 at 9:20 am.

Investigation by Coast Guard personnel revealed that the cargo vessel was loaded with 22,780 cases of Beer and departed Mandaue City, Cebu at about 9:00 am last July 3, 2009, enroute to San Jose, Southern Samar. The vessel was navigating at the vicinity of Barangay Peña, Calbayog City, Samar when it encountered big waves and strong winds brought by southwest monsoon. The vessel listed on her starboard side and eventually sank.

All officers and crew members of the subject vessel managed to survive by utilizing the vessel’s paddled life raft. They proceeded to Brgy. Bugtong, Calbayog City and arrived at around 4:45 pm of August 4, 2009. The survivors were assisted by the personnel of the Coast Guard Detachment in Calbayog for medical checkup and were advised to report the incident to their shipping Office in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Meanwhile Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilferdo Tamayo, directed Coast Guard District Commander Commodore Rolando Dizon to alert Marine Environmental Protection Group (MEPGRU) Central Eastern Visayas and Special Operation Unit Central Eastern Visayas for possible oil spill.

The crew members are:

1. Capt Ermin Gabilong (Master), 54 yrs old of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
2. Jerry Arroyo (Chief mate), 46 yrs. old of Cabancalan, Negros Occidental
3. Ruben Vargas (Chief Engr), 46 yrs. old of Villa Dolid, Negros Occidental
4. Ramonito Derafer (Asst Engr), 50 yrs. old of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
5. Alpidio Portes (QM), 34 yrs. old of President Garcia, Bohol
6. Sandy Corong (QM), 32 yrs. old of Victoria, Northern Samar
7. Larry Tablatin (QM), 28 yrs. old of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
8. Jeros Hesoler (Oiler), 27 yrs. old of Hinatilan, Cebu
9. Celestino Ganuhay (Oiler) of Looc, Mandaue City
10. Roger Corong (Cook), 30 yrs. old of Victoria, Northern Samar