Filipino fishermen Marcelo Corrales and Ronnie Natinga owe their lives to the captain and crew of the Seafarers-contracted LNG Libra.The vessel on Aug. 20 saved the duo from certain doom some 85 nautical miles north northeast of Kandi Sulawesi in the Celebes Sea. According to AB Eduardo Morre, who regularly sails on the vessel, the Libra lookout spotted two fishermen drifting in their 13-foot fishing boats and signaling that they were in distress. The word was passed to Libra Captain Thomas S. Laird who altered his course and maneuvered into position to render assistance. The Libra at the time was on course to Bontang, Indonesia.
Once in position, Libra crew members extracted the fishermen from their boats. Aside from being hungry, thirsty and tired following their rescue, Natinga and Corrales were in relatively good medical condition. They were clothed, fed and questioned about how they had managed to get themselves into such a precarious situation.
The duo revealed that they, along with fishermen in three other small vessels, had departed Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines during the early morning hours of Aug. 16. Once in the open sea, however, they lost contact with their comrades and drifted some 200 miles south of their original location. Having exhausted all means for requesting assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard/Indonesian Search and Rescue authorities over the next four days, they were left at the mercy of the sea. At the time of their rescue, Natinga and Corrales had no food or water remaining on their boats.
Following the rescue, Libra crew members set the fishermen’s vessels adrift, and the captain resumed his course. Meanwhile, Natinga and Corrales rested for two nights and three days.
After arriving in Bontang, Captain Laird made arrangements to repatriate the two fishermen back to their country. The captain also thanked everyone for their efforts in the successful rescue.
“The example of professionalism, teamwork and generosity speaks highly of the crew of the LNG Libra on voyage 481,” Laird said. “I know that Mercelo, Ronnie, and their families and loves ones will always be very grateful for the kindness and compassion that was shown by all.
“Being good shipmates and watching out for one another do not apply only on board our vessel,” the captain concluded. “Aug. 20 showed that it applies to everyone at sea as well.”
Seafarers aboard the Libra at the time of the rescue were: Bosun Frank Hedge, ABs David W. Collins, Eddie R. Ponteres, Richard T. Spence>/b>, Pedro Ramos, Rodolfo C. Antonio and Osmond Raji; QMEDs Richard E. Wilson, Jose A. Quinones and Leonides B. Bacal; GUDE Julian L. Lacuesta; Chief Steward Abraham M. Martinez; Chief Cook Paul F. Diesner, and Steward Assistants Monty E. Smith, Carlos D. Boiser Jr. and Roserlina A. Commager.
Those involved in the actual rescue included Bosun Hedge; ABs Ponteres, Antonio and Raji, GUDE Lacuesta Jr.; and SAs Boiser and Commager.
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