Small sea vessel trips suspended in parts of northern Cebu due to Inday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Two Philippine Coast Guard substations in northern Cebu have temporarily suspended the movement of motorbancas and small vessels in parts of Bantayan Island and the Camotes Islands due to unfavorable sea conditions brought by the effects of Typhoon Inday.

In separate advisories, the Coast Guard Sub-Station Santa Fe and Coast Guard Station Camotes ordered the temporary suspension of sea travel for small vessels as strong to gale-force winds continue to affect coastal and adjacent waters within their areas of responsibility.

READ: Inday maintains strength, Signal No. 1 up in 12 Northern Luzon areas

Sea travel suspended

According to CGSS Santa Fe, the suspension covers all motorbancas and vessels with a gross tonnage of 35 GT and below plying the Kinatarcan–Santa Fe and Kinatarcan–Daanbantayan routes, including island-hopping activities.

The suspension took effect as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, pursuant to the Philippine Coast Guard’s guidelines on the movement of motorbancas and vessels in the absence of local weather bulletins.

Meanwhile, CGS Camotes also suspended the voyages of vessels measuring 15 GT and below operating within its area of responsibility.

The Coast Guard said maritime operations might resume once weather and sea conditions return to normal.

READ: Super Typhoon Bavi: No direct hit but Cebu alert for rains

Public advised to avoid sea travel

Both Coast Guard stations urged passengers, fisherfolk, and residents of coastal communities to refrain from engaging in unnecessary sea travel and other sea-related activities while the suspension remained in effect.

CGS Camotes likewise reminded vessel operators to continue monitoring weather conditions and the movement of Typhoon Inday, especially if their routes may be affected by the weather disturbance.

The station also said vessels intending to seek shelter might be allowed to do so, provided a written request would be submitted, and no passengers or cargo would be on board.

READ: Gov’t warns of flooding, landslides as Super Typhoon Inday nears

Typhoon Inday

The advisories were issued after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Inday had weakened into a typhoon while continuing to enhance the southwest monsoon, or habagat, bringing strong to gale-force winds over large parts of the country, including the Visayas.

As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the typhoon was located 925 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 215 kph while moving west northwest at 20 kph.

Although the typhoon is not expected to make landfall in Cebu, Pagasa said its circulation and the enhanced southwest monsoon were expected to continue generating strong winds and rough seas that could pose risks to small vessels.

Authorities advised the public to monitor official weather and maritime advisories and wait for the lifting of the suspension before traveling by sea.

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