The Philippine Coast Guard’s Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro has suspended trips of small vessels as a gale warning is in effect in the seaboards of Southern Luzon on August 28.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in a sea travel advisory said Gale Warning Nr 7 has been raised, indicating the presence of a strong gale with wind speeds of 45 – 63 kilometers per hour or 24 – 34 knots.

These conditions have led to rough to very rough sea states on the Western Seaboard of Southern Luzon, affecting the Province of Occidental Mindoro and Lubang Island, the state weather bureau said.

“All trips of small crafts below 250 GT throughout the ports in the Province of Occidental Mindoro are hereby suspenced,” said Captain Eddy Son Abanilla, Station Commander of Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro.

The resumption of these trips remains dependent on favorable weather conditions, and the final decision will be based on further updates from Pagasa, Abanilla added.

Vessel operators are encouraged to refer to the HPCG Memorandum Circular Number 03-01, which provides guidelines for the movement of motorboats and vessels when there is no local weather bulletin available.