FIRE HITS M/V PRINCESS OF THE WORLD

By Ronron
July 7, 2005

Coast Guard District Commander in Zamboanga Commodore
Alejandro Flora said that as of 5:45pm today, the M/V
Princess of the World was still on fire.

He said the Navy vessel, BRP 3504 Davao del Norte, was
not able to sustain the firefighting activity it was
carrying out on the vessel because it was just small
compared to the commercial ferry (more than 10,000
gross tonnage).

A Coast Guard ship from Cebu, particularly the
SAR-003, is now on its way to the site to continue the
firefighting activity, Flora added.

BRP 3504 Davao del Norte, instead, was pulled out and
directed to proceed to Sta. Maria pier in Siocon town,
Zamboanga del Norte where all the survivors were
brought.

Flora said the personnel of BRP 3504 Davao del Norte
is tasked to do the accounting of the passengers and
crew members of the ill-fated vessel at the said pier.

Afterwhich, the vessel is to bring the survivors to
Zamboanga City.

Flora said he still has no information as to the exact
number of survivors or possible casualties. The
vessel was carrying 108 passengers, 109 crew members
and five sea marshals at the time of the accident.

Initial reports reaching Flora indicate that the fire
started at the engine room of the vessel. It is not
yet known if there was an explosion prior to the
blaze.

But he said an investigation will be conducted to
determine if the accident was caused by some technical
problems, human-initiated, or terrorism-related.

Flora begged off in describing the extent of the fire,
or the damage it caused to the vessel, saying he still
has no information about the matter.

The vessel is now abandoned./DMS