Another Filipino seafarer is declared missing while on board his ship in the high seas, reports reaching the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.
The missing Filipino seafarer was identified as Kristoferry Mantilla, a crew member of the M/V Navios Phoenix.
This is the second time a Filipino seafarer was declared missing while on board a ship in a week. The first Filipino seafarer that was confirmed missing by the POEA is Lucio Cabading Sablas, captain of M/V Algeciras Express, in the Mediterranean Sea.
“Medyo nakakabahala na meron na namang nawawalang seafarer natin. Halos magkasunod sila,” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia told BusinessMirror.
M/V Navios Phoenix, a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier, came from South Korea and on its way to Canada when the crew discovered that Mantilla was missing.
According to the manning agent Inter-Orient Maritime Enterprises Inc., the crew conducted a full search on board and could not find Mantilla.
The captain of the ship also broadcasted a “PAN-PAN message”—an international radiotelephony system signaling that they have an urgent situation on board their ship.
The ship is expected to dock in Canada on July 21 and Canadian and Panamanian authorities will conduct their own investigation, the Interorient Maritime agency wrote to POEA.
