ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Naval Forces Western Mindanao reported on Monday that its personnel rescued at least 175 passengers and crew members of M/B Queen Shaima after the vessel encountered engine trouble while navigating to Zamboanga City from Luuk in Sulu.

NFWM commander Rear Adm. Donn Anthony L. Miraflor narrated that the the vessel left Alayon Wharf in  Luuk, Sulu and was bound for Baliwasan Seaside Wharf in this city when they encountered an engine trouble on Saturday.

Miraflor said that the motor boat was floating for about 11 hours starting at 1 a.m. and was rescued by BRP Florencio Iñigo (PC393) at 11:35 a.m. on Sunday.

During the 11 hours of floating, the boat mechanics were trying to fix the engine of the watercraft but failed.

Sensing that they could not fix the engine, the boat captain radioed a distress call which was received and intercepted by the NFWM, informing them that the distress motor boat was in the vicinity of Bolod Island in  Sulu.

Miraflor said that upon receiving the report, BRP Florencio Iñigo was immediately dispatched to locate and provide rescue and assistance to the passengers of M/V Queen Shaima.

While en route to locate the vessel, PC393 was able to establish communication with the Littoral Monitoring Station in Pilas Island and was able to locate M/B Queen Shaima and the sailors found the passenger vessel floating approximately 2.55 nautical miles northwest of East Bolod Island in Sulu.

At least 80 passengers of MB Queen Shaima were transferred to PC393, while the remaining 95 passengers remained on the distressed vessel. PC393 immediately towed the vessel to Ensign Majini Pier, NSRE, Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City.