Encouraged by the recovery of two bodies from the sunken wooden vessel Catalyn B, the Coast Guard intensified Sunday its search for bodies of victims in two maritime tragedies that occurred during the holidays. Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo also set deadlines for search, rescue and retrieval operations for the victims from the Catalyn B and the Baleno 9. In a radio interview, Tamayo gave Coast Guard teams until the end of this week to finish search operations for the Catalyn B, and up to 10 days for the Baleno 9. “The remotely operated (diving) vehicle was a big help in deep-sea diving operations. The search operations will continue),” Tamayo said in an interview on DZBB radio. “We expect to finish the search operations for Catalyn B victims within this week,” he added. The wooden-hulled Catalyn B sank after colliding with the metal-hulled fishing vessel Anatalya off Cavite before dawn of Dec. 24. At least five were confirmed dead and 22 still missing after two bodies were recovered Saturday. Coast Guard auxiliary divers assisted by American diver Matthew Caldwell retrieved the remains of Alex Masangkay, 30; and Lea Ann Tejoso reportedly in her 20s. Once the search operations end, the Board of Marine Inquiry will start its investigation into the Catalyn-Anatalya incident, Tamayo said. He added he expects the Board of Marine Inquiry to finish its investigation in 15 days.Tamayo said the search-and-rescue vessel BRP Pampanga resumed search, rescue and retrieval operations early Sunday for bodies from Catalyn B. Tamayo said he has given 10 days for search, rescue and retrieval operations for victims of the vessel Baleno 9, which sank off Batangas last December 26. At least six were confirmed dead while some 44 passengers and crew remain missing. Another ferry drifts at sea A ferry owned by Millennium Shipping Co. stopped dead in the water for three-and-a-half hours when its engine malfunctioned 30 minutes after it left Lipata Port in Surigao City 3 A.M., Saturday. Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Armand Balilo said MV Millennium, carrying 45 passengers and 17 crew members, stopped sailing due to “diluted fuel supply” from the vessel's main engine.
