2nd man found in E. China Sea after freighter went missing

FILE: East China Sea from breakwater of Chatan Sunset Beach (Photo by そらみみ – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – An unidentified man was found floating on the ocean as the search continues for the over 40 missing crew members of a freighter carrying nearly 6,000 cattle in the East China Sea, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo reported Friday.

The Embassy has yet to determine the nationality of the man as of this posting.

Meanwhile, it reported that Eduardo Sareno, the Filipino crew member initially rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard, is currently recovering in the hospital and in good health.

“He will be repatriated to the Philippines once Covid-19 protocols are cleared,” the Embassy said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Osaka are coordinating with the manning agency, the shipowner, as well as the Japanese Coast Guard to try and obtain more information about the missing seafarers in order to contact their relatives.

The Philippine government’s agencies are also in talks with relevant authorities to extend all appropriate assistance for Filipino seafarers and their families.

“The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate General in Osaka are providing their full support. The DFA remains hopeful that the other Filipino seafarers will soon be found,” the Embassy said.

The Panamanian-flagged cargo ship Gulf Livestock 1 carried a total of 43 crew, including 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders, two Australians, and was loaded with cattle when it left the port of Napier in New Zealand off to the port of Tangshan in China.

On Wednesday, it transmitted a distress call 185 kilometers west of Amami Oshima, Kagoshima prefecture. Typhoon Maysak was approaching the surrounding waters at that time.

The Japanese Coast Guard continues to search for other missing crew.