Boat Insurance News: 900 accounted for after SuperFerry-9 sinks
Posted on September 09th 2009
The SuperFerry-9 began to list in the early hours of Sunday 6 September off the Zamboanga peninsula in the Philippines and before the ferry completely submerged, the Captain ordered the launch of the lifeboats.
Over 900 people fled the ferry including the 117 staff who were the last to leave the ailing ship and passengers donned life jackets before jumping into the sea; the captain had ordered a distress call and the coastguard, navy, air force and private boats aided the rescue the passengers.
Nearly all the 900 crewman and passengers have been accounted for and a spokesmen from the Philippine Defence Ministry said that the "presence of other vessels and good weather" helped the unusual recovery of so many survivors.
Nine people in total have been found dead in the rescue operation and naval officials in the Philippines were not expecting any more survivors until Lita Casunglon was spotted amongst high waves over 30 hours since the catastrophe.
She is reported to be in a weak but stable condition after surviving over a day without food or water; when found she quipped that she had 'two small crabs as souvenirs.' It is unclear as to what caused the Superferry-9 to sink and a massive search and rescue team is still at large to try and locate one unaccounted for passenger.
Insure My Boat provides boat insurance for vessel owners moored or adrift on inland or coast UK waters.
Other news stories
- Catamaran camelot partially submerged
- Struggling passenger dinghy left adrift
- Lifejacket to the rescue
- Boat insurance void with drink-sailing
- Adventurous boat insurance needed for intrepid explorer
- Immediate remedy of burns
- Belfast Maritime Festival ends amongst many waving flags
- Bronze age boat to sail again
- Dover Regatta loses life
- 14 overturned in Scottish Regatta
- Dolphin joins the party
- Sail to the American Dream
