Previous Story
Ferry runs aground, 13 hurt
|
Posted on Oct 10 2005
A Tinian Express ferry ran aground on the cliffline of the Tinian Dump Coke area on the western side of the island early yesterday morning, slightly injuring all 12 passengers and the boat’s co-captain.
Police said the passengers sustained minor injuries that were immediately treated. The co-captain, however, had to be brought to Saipan’s Commonwealth Health Center for further treatment, acting police spokesman Eric David said.
David did not disclose the identities of the passengers and the co-captain, as well as the extent of the injuries, but acting Tinian police chief Sylvestre Palacios said the passengers were mostly Chinese tourists.
Police received a report about the distressed vessel at about 1:18am yesterday. “When it happened, it was dark,” Palacios said.
The ferry ran aground on the western portion of the island. The port is located on southern Tinian.
Palacios said the ferry sustained severe damage to its front portion. Until yesterday afternoon, Tinian police said efforts to salvage the ferry were still ongoing.
It remained unclear if there was heavy downpour at the time of the incident. On Sunday, the Emergency Management Office issued an advisory that cautioned the public of heavy rainfall on Saipan, Tinian, Agrihan and Pagan due to a poorly defined tropical disturbance in the Northern Islands.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the scene to conduct an investigation. The cause of the accident has not been determined yet.
Despite the incident, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino staff said ferry services between Saipan and Tinian remain normal, except for two trip cancellations. Tinian Express cancelled its 10:30pm trip from Tinian to Saipan, and the midnight trip from Saipan to Tinian. Tinian Express reportedly has one ferry left to service those islands after yesterday’s accident.
Based on normal schedule, Tinian Express leaves Tinian at 1:30am, 8am, 1pm, 7pm and 10:30pm; the ferry leaves Saipan at midnight, 3:30am, 9:30am, 5pm and 8:30pm.
