Remains of 2 M/V Devon Bay crew recovered, arrived in Manila port

MANILA, Philippines — The remains of two M/V Devon Bay crew members who died when the vessel capsized off Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal arrived at Manila port early Monday.

The crew, holding the ranks of able seaman and boatswain’s mate, were brought by the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which docked at Pier 13 in the Port Area around 5:00 a.m.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the identities of the deceased have not been released. Their remains have since been turned over to a funeral service provider.

Also aboard the Teresa Magbanua were 15 survivors of the incident, who were later handed over to the Department of Migrant Workers and the Bureau of Quarantine.

The survivors jumped overboard and were later rescued by a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel.

They were received during a turnover operation conducted between the PCG and CCG approximately 161 nautical miles west of Tambobong, Pangasinan, according to Teresa Magbanua captain Alvin Dagalea.

Dagalea said the CCG deployed five rescue boats, while the PCG launched two of its rigid-hull inflatable boats to transport the 15 survivors and two cadavers.

Meanwhile, four, including M/V Devon Bay Captain Elimar Jucal, remain missing.

READ: Missing captain hailed as ‘hero’ in cargo ship sinking off Scarborough

The Singapore-flagged MV Devon Bay had 21 Filipino crew members and was carrying iron ore when it departed Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte, bound for Guangdong, China.

According to PCG Commandant, Add. Ronnie Gil Gavan, initial findings suggest that the “liquefaction” of its cargo and bad weather caused the vessel to capsize, which Dagalea said occurred 60 nautical miles northeast of Panatag Shoal.

Citing the crew, Gavan said the ship was actually carrying 55,000 tons of nickel ore. Last week, the PCG had initially reported the cargo as iron ore. /mcm