Navy’s Landing Craft rescues Motor Launch vessel

From Update Philippines (Aug 3): Navy’s Landing Craft rescues Motor Launch vessel

Philippine Navy’s heavy landing craft BRP Ivatan (LC298) rescued a Motor Launch Vessel which suffered machine breakdown at vicinity waters off San Ramon, Zamboanga City.

On August 1 at around 2 pm, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) received report from a distressed vessel.

NFWM immediately dispatched BRP Ivatan (LC298) to verify the incident and render necessary assistance, through Naval Task Force 61 (NTF61).

“While transporting to the location of the said vessel, LC298 led by Lt. Commander Alfredo Todio PN, established communication with the distressed vessel through cellphone and marine band. The vessel was identified as ML Moonlight Sheera, a cargo vessel with 8 crew members and the Boat Captain was known to be Albisil Sapie. According to the boat captain, while enroute to Iloilo City to transport their cargos composed of assorted fruits, the vessel incurred a machinery breakdown from a broken propeller shaft,” NFWM said.

“LC298 arrived to the said location of the distressed vessel and immediately provided towing line and conducted astern towing. ML moonlight Sheer was towed to Wayvin Pier, Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City as requested by the Boat Captain for expeditious unloading of cargoes on board,” it added.

BRP Ivatan is a former Royal Australian Navy Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft. Australia transferred 5 Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft to Philippine Navy.

https://www.update.ph/2017/08/navys-landing-craft-rescues-motor-launch-vessel/19677