ferry Thomas Aquinas and the freighter Sulpicio Express 7 collide

[Stan Muller]

A Philippine ferry with nearly 700 passengers aboard, collided with a cargo ship and sank. There were seventeen people killed, 690 people have been rescued.

Rescued survivors arrived at the hospital in the city of Cebu.

The ships collided in the evening (local time)in the harbor of the town of Talisay in the province of Cebu. The captain of the ferry gave the assignment to disembark because the boat was sinking after the collision. Ships nearby helped to pick up passengers.

The ships involved are the ferry Thomas Aquinas and the freighter Sulpicio Express 7

[davidships]

Just what is the correct name?  ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, M/V ST. THOMAS AQUINAS or ST. THOMAS OF AQUINAS? Unfortunately 2GO Travel uses all three versions at different places on its website.

ABS, her class society, has M/V ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, which is what was painted on the bows: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1670510

Equasis, sourcing from IHS/Fairplay, has ST. THOMAS OF AQUINAS (odd one as the place he came from was Aquino) but does follow the patters of some other 2GO vessels.

[DanEarl]

Unfortunately the death toll has risen to 52 with 68 still missing.

More information and a photo here :

http://maritime-connector.com/news/security-and-piracy/death-toll-hits-52-in-philippines-ferry-disaster/

Cheers, Dan.

[DanEarl]

Update here :

http://maritime-connector.com/news/security-and-piracy/cargo-ship-in-cebu-maritime-tragedy-in-the-wrong-lane-transasia-captain/

Shocking.

Cheers, Dan.