A SURVIVOR'S ORDEAL

By: CM Nestor F. Duyongan, MST
Faculty, Marine Transportation

Barely six months after the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines, Inc., a 23, 824 ton Roll-on Roll-off cargo passenger vessel and considered to be the biggest domestic vessel during her time, still lingers on the pages of both local and national newspapers.

M/V princess of the Stars sunk at height of typhoon Frank (internationally code named "Fensen") on June 21, 2008 with more than 800 passengers and crew off Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon on her way to Cebu City. Her sinking was sensationalized by the local and international media blanketing reports of other 22 vessels which also perished during the onslaught of Frank.

Unknown to most people, another ship bound for Cebu sunk some 12 hours before the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars capsized, killing at least five people of the 35 on board. The M/V Lake Paoay owned and operated by Semirara Mining Co., left Semirara Island in Antique en route to Toledo City in Cebu. The 2, 335-ton vessel was transporting coal to a coal-fired power plant in Toledo City when it sunk June 21, 2008 at the coast of Punta Carles and Sitio Luyo not far from where the Princess of Stars overturned.

Charlemagne Majorenos, a BSMT Batch 29, (nautical) student of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, a deck cadet promoted to able bodied-seaman (quartermaster) of ill-fated ship, M/V Lake Paoay and one of the survivors during the sinking narrated his ordeal when chanced upon by the contributor when he submitted his documents and requirements for his application for a BSMT degree.

On June 20, 2008, at 0300H (3 AM), M/V Lake Paoay departed Semirara Island bound for Toledo City, loaded with 5,000 metric tons of coal in bulk. The weather was good but the Master kept on monitoring the movement of Frank which was earlier forecasted not to make a landfall nor enter into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

While at the vicinity of Zapato Mayor Island more or less 1400H (2 PM) of the same day, an information was relayed on board by their office that Frank has diverted its direction was heading towards the central part of the country; Masbate, Burias Islands, Romblon, Mindoro, Aklan and some parts of the Bicol region. The Master called an emergency meeting to discuss any contingency plan should the typhoon becomes severe. The wave started to form, its height increases, and the crest shows some white horses, and the winds started to blow in different directions. The 2nd officer who was on watch during that time was instructed by the Master to plot Frank's predicted position and it was found that they will be in the eye of storm within several hours if action will not be taken immediately. A collective decision was reached by all officers to take shelter at Bolacaue Pt. some 2.5 miles away from the shoreline of Panay Peninsula. They arrived at the said location at around 1545H (3:45 PM) and immediately dropped the port anchor.

At 2045H (8:45 PM) an alarm was sounded and the Master ordered to drop the starboard anchor because the ship started to sway and there was a danger of drifting towards the seashore.

At 0300H (3 AM) early dawn of the next day, June 21, 2008, another alarm was sounded, all engines were started to maneuver the ship. Maneuvering in a storm is a very difficult situation especially if the ship has nowhere to go. On that time, big waves battered the ship and some materials such as canvass and other lashing equipments were blown off by the strong winds.

As Frank continued its rampage, the officers and crew of Lake Paoay gradually lost their hope in saving the ship despite of exhausting all their efforts to do so. No amount of training and skills could be utilized in this horrible experience. Some company personnel who were on board started to panic, worn lifejackets and prayed. Steering room, engine room, bow thruster compartment and a void space were likewise filled with water. Cries were heard and there was vomiting everywhere.

"It was my duty during that time when the ship listed heavily on her starboard side and I was ordered by the 2nd officer to prepare for the worst, so I went down to my cabin to secure my documents and wore a lifejacket then went back to the bridge." Majorenos recalled.

"At 0430H (4:30 AM) Paoay listed heavily and the Master declared to abandon the ship upon sensing that it was no longer habitable. I went to the aft section, made the sign of the cross and uttered; "this is it, God save us", he said.

"The Master sent a distress signal but rescue was very impossible because of the worsening weather condition. We jumped overboard and that was the last time that we saw each other."

"When I was on the water, Majorenos continued; I saw the ship lost its lights and in few seconds it totally vanished. My second home was gone and I believed some of the passengers and crew went down with her. Now I'm keeping afloat on the water with no direction," he added.

While on the water, Majorenos started to think of his family back home at Poblacion, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur. The cool temperature of the water gradually penetrated his body and hypothermia is not too far to happen. Hypothermia is the gradual decrease of the body heat or temperature due to longer exposure on the water. Sea horses and other sea insects kept biting his legs plus the pain of every raindrop that fall on his body generated by strong winds. He has mixed emotions but never lost hope. His body did not succumb to the prolonged hardship which was beyond one's control. He recalled those days when he went on endurance training while he was about to enter his cadet hood at ZSCMST because it helped him a lot to think positively in overcoming those very trying moments. Jogging also during reveilles has gained him the stamina and power to resist fatigue despite of staying at sea with no food and water. He made his mouth wide open just to catch raindrop to drink.

He can still remember in one of the lectures at school that seafaring is not always like sleeping in a bed of roses. A seafarer should be academically, morally, physically, emotionally and spiritually prepared when he go to sea. Emotionally prepared for being far away from home and love ones. Physically for being exposed to the rigors and vigor of the environment onboard. Spiritually for putting God above all regardless of religious beliefs that He may give strength to all seafarers and become His apostles at sea.

After 48 hours of floating at sea without food and water, Frank's fury started to slow down and to his great surprise; despite of being weak with blurred vision, he spotted an umbra when he was at the crest of the waves and lost his sight when he was down in the trough. The sky gradually became brighter indicating a brand new day. Still on the water, he observed that waves and winds started to calm down and again to his surprise he saw an island. He cannot describe his feelings and tears fall from his eyes thanking God for his new life. He was saddened whenever he remembers his crewmates and also prayed for their safety. As he was drifted continuously towards the seashore, his hope to survive was getting brighter. The sun has risen and the shoreline was already visible and the distance seemed nearer. He observed that the weather has improved and he believed Frank has already passed by.

Finally, at around 0800H (8:00 AM) on June 23, 2008, his ordeal ended when landed at Sitio Agoo, Boca-Engaño, Claveria, Masbate. Residents of the area helped and brought him to nearby hospital for immediate treatment.

"I'm proud of myself for surviving the most difficult times of my life. I do believe that faith in God, strong determination and the will to survive has contributed much. I am encouraging my junior cadets to go on if they really intend to go to sea. Paswertehan lang yan! I still go on sailing because I learned to love this profession and likewise, I love the sea", exclaimed Majorenos in his ending statement.