The Philippines is currently working on repatriating the lone survivor and the deceased from a maritime tragedy involving the cargo ship Bulk Jupiter, which sank off the coast of Vietnam on January 2, 2023. Angelito Capindo Rojas, an Ilonggo cook aboard the ship, is the only survivor from the 19-member Filipino crew. The vessel, registered in the Bahamas and carrying 46,400 metric tons of bauxite, sank approximately 150 nautical miles off Vung Tau after departing from Kuantan, Malaysia, and heading to China.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported that the bodies of Captain Ronel Acueza Andrin and 3rd Officer Jerome Maquilang Dinoy have been confirmed dead, while 16 other crew members remain missing. Ongoing search efforts, coordinated by Vietnamese authorities, face challenges due to inclement weather conditions. The DFA is making arrangements for Rojas’s return along with the fallen crew members, assisted by the manning agency Magsaysay Maritime Corporation and the Philippine honorary consul in Ho Chi Minh City.
Rojas, while recovering in a Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Center, has reportedly been in shock following the disaster. Although investigators have attempted to gather his account of the incident, he has remained largely uncooperative, citing dizziness and exhaustion. This has raised concerns regarding the investigation into the sinking.
In addition to repatriation efforts, various Philippine government agencies, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), are providing support to the families of the victims. Captain Andrin, who was 45 years old, hailed from Polillo, Quezon, and 3rd Officer Dinoy was from Lapu-Lapu, Cebu.
The ship’s owner, Norway-based Gearbulk, has indicated that the Japanese Coast Guard received distress alerts regarding Bulk Jupiter, noting that empty lifeboats and life rafts were discovered during the search operations.
In response to the tragedy, the Philippine government is contemplating participation in search and rescue efforts alongside other nations, as Vietnam has called for additional assistance from vessels in the vicinity. The Philippine National Defense Secretary is assessing the possibility of deploying resources.
In a related incident, another Filipino sailor is currently unaccounted for following the sinking of the Cypriot-registered cargo ship Cemfjord near Scotland. Reports indicate that a passing ferry found the upturned hull of the vessel, with 7 Polish crew members also missing. The search for them has since been suspended, with focus shifting to an investigation.
These events are part of a troubling trend affecting Filipino seafarers, who are significant contributors to the global maritime workforce, representing a quarter of the world’s 1.5 million officers and crew. The recent incidents reflect the inherent dangers associated with the profession, raising concerns for the safety and well-being of Filipino maritime workers.
