LCT 8 Sinks off Surigao del Sur, All 17 Crew Safe
The Ro-Ro landing craft LCT 8 sank in strong winds and rough waves just off Carrascal, a coastal town in Surigao del Sur province on the northeastern side of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, on 10 November. All 17 crew members, including the captain, are safe and in good condition, the Philippine Coast Guard said on 12 November.
The captain called the coast guard at about 5.22 am to report that the vessel had gone under and was leaking oil. An early inspection found about 800 litres of spilled oil, with around 200 metres of shoreline affected. Responders laid absorbent pads and containment booms and recovered 460 litres of oily water on the first day. On 11 November they collected another 170 litres of oily waste and 390 kg of oil-soaked debris.
From the CrewMirror Blog
LCT 8 reportedly ran a domestic service between Cebu City and Carrascal Bay, where the port serves an inland nickel mining area. The coast guard has opened a marine casualty investigation and is still watching the nearby coastal waters to decide whether more clean-up work is needed. More reports on accidents like this are available in CrewMirror’s maritime news section.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Flat-bottomed landing craft are vulnerable in heavy weather, especially at anchor or close inshore. Masters of such vessels should check the forecast closely, keep watertight openings secured and seek shelter early when winds rise.
