Sunday, September 05, 2010
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Accidents September 4, 2010 Manila, Philippines
A Liberian-flagged cargo shipping vessel was attacked by five unidentified robbers while anchored along the break water off Manila Bay early morning on Saturday.
Lieutenant Commander Armando Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Public Information Officer said that M/V Serapong, a 9,957 gross-tonnage cargo vessel based in Liberia carrying 14 Filipino and two Ukrainian crew members was attacked by six suspected seajackers at around 2:25 a.m. on September 4 2010.
Balilo said that based on the sworn statement of Igor Pokotilov, the Ukrainian ship captain that upon dropping their anchor near the break water, five unidentified men were spotted by the duty officer along the facile deck area. The duty officer failed to immediately informed Pokotilov after a suspected seajacker pointed a .38 caliber revolver directly into head of the officer.
Probers said that the suspects stayed for 15 minutes and escaped using one of the vessels light raft boat. Several diving gears and other tools were also missing inside the cargo vessel.
Pokotilov has filed a marine protest before the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). The PCG National Capital Region District is currently conducting an investigation on the incident.
Manila Bulletin
MELL Serapong IMO 9373917, dwt 13781, built 2007, flag Liberia, manager Hartmann Schiffahrts GmbH.
Correction: manager of the vessel is NSC Schiffahrt, Hamburg Germany, Hartmann is listed as an owner.
