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Tanker saved 11 distressed sailors

A distress call of the Philippine flagged cargo m/v "Sea Merchant" was monitored by the Vessel Traffic Management Sytem (VTMS Batangas) and the "Mactan Island". The ship sank five nautical miles southeast of Malabrigo Point in Lobo, Batangas at around 6:45 a.m. on Jan 1, 2015. The tanker was plying near the area of incident. The Philippine Coastguard dispatched the patrol boat "San Juan - SARV-001". The "Mactan Island" conducted SAR operations and rescued 11 crewmembers onboard a life raft. Rescue teams of the Coastguard and the "Mactan Island" continued scouring the vicinity for the possible recovery of the remaining missing nine Crew members, including the master of the cargo vessel. approximately. The missing crewmembers reportedly boarded a life raft. The "Sea Merchant" was carrying 20,040 bags of cement to Antique from Bauan Port where it had loaded 16 tons of diesel oil. While the vessel was heading towards Dumali Point, Oriental Mindoro at 2 p.m., it was suddenly battered by large waves and strong winds at port side, causing her cement cargo to shift to starboard side and then a list of 10 degrees. The master ordered his chief mate to correct the list by shifting the ship’s heading while the engine crew tried to take in ballast water at port side, when three consecutive big waves hit the ship causing it to take in more water. The "Sea Merchant" subsequently sank several minutes after the chief mate initiated the distress call at 4 p.m.