SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A leisure yacht mistakenly identified in an online news site as a “Chinese vessel” that allegedly entered Subic Bay without notice raised concerns among netizens here on Sunday. But it turned out to be just that, a Subic-registered pleasure boat with a bunch of Chinese guests onboard.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator said that Subic port authorities have identified the vessel as MV Balena II, which is registered at the SBMA Seaport Department to Didier Ladriere, a Belgian national who owns the Urban Deli restaurant here in the Subic Bay Freeport.
“It really caused some alarm among those monitoring the incident on social media, especially when it was falsely identified as having entered Subic without informing authorities. But thank God it soon checked out,” Eisma said.
She said a post on social media inquiring about the presence of a boat with Chinese passengers near the Ocean Adventure Park was soon picked up by an online news site and sparked the confusion.
“But as soon as I heard about it, even if there was no confirmation, I called both (National Security Adviser) Secretary Hermogenes Esperon and (Department of National Defense) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana immediately for appropriate coordination,” she said.
The news report had since been corrected by the online publication, Eisma added.
SBMA Deputy Administrator for Port Operation Rani Cruz said the 40-meter yacht was apparently on a bay cruise with the owner piloting the vessel. Eight Chinese nationals who were Ladriere’s guests were on board, along with the boat crew of 12 people.
Cruz said that the boat had called up the Subic Port communications office at 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, informing authorities that it will cruise the Subic Bay with 10 guests onboard.
At 11:18 a.m., MV Balena II was seen dropping anchor along the coral area off the Camayan Cove. However, the vessel reportedly did not reply when it was hailed several times on radio by local authorities.
At 3:10 p.m., MV Balena II was sighted sailing in front of Alava Pier inbound, but still wouldn’t answer calls.
At 4:05 p.m., Subic authorities finally received an answer from the boat as it was being secured at the causeway. A representative of Ladriere’s explained that the boat’s VHF radio was unattended throughout their bay cruise.
The boat reportedly dropped anchor near the Camayan Cove at around 11:45 a.m. for casual swimming. Thereafter, the boat passengers had their lunch on board as the yacht was anchored until the PNP Maritime Police told them to leave the coral area at 2:00 p.m.
MV Balena II then continued with the Subic Bay cruise until it returned to the dock late in the afternoon. (Dante M. Salvana)