Philippine Fast Ferry Chief Engineer Dies in Collision

zoom A chief engineer aboard a Philippine fast ferry died in a collision with a cargo ship off Talisay City, Cebu, yesterday afternoon, the local daily The Philippine Star reports. The fast ferry Starcraft 9 was reportedly travelling to Tubigon, Bohol when it collided with the freighter MV Our Lady of Faith at around 6 pm, local time. The force of the impact threw the ferrys chief engineer Romeo Astillejo from the vessel. Astillejo was pulled out of the water by his fellow crewmen in an unconscious state, and was transported to Cebu City Pier 3 at around 6:15 pm local time. He was then rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Starcraft 9 was carrying 262 passengers, including 15 crew members at the time of the collision. The ferry suffered damage to its bow, while the cargo ship emerged from the collision unharmed. World Maritime News Staff