USC&GS Romblon

USC&GS Romblon in the Philippine Islands at a coal pier her crew built
Career (US)
Name:	USC&GS Romblon
Namesake:	Romblon, an island in the Philippine Islands
Owner:	Philippine Insular Government
Operator:	U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey/Philippine Insular Government
Acquired:	November 1, 1905
Commissioned:	1905
Decommissioned:	1921
General characteristics
Type:	Survey ship
Length:	132 ft (40 m)
Beam:	23 ft (7.0 m)
Draught:	10.2 ft (3.1 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine

USC&GS Romblon was a survey ship, owned by the Philippine Insular Government, in service in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1905 to 1921. Named for Romblon, an island located south of Luzon in the central Philippines, served in the Philippine Islands throughout her career.^[1]

Acquisition

Romblon was transferred from the Philippine Commission to the Coast and Geodetic Survey for Philippine survey work on November 1, 1905.^{[Note 1][2]}

For operations in the Philippines the U.S. Government paid salaries, cost of travel to and from the Philippines and expenses for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey officers aboard the ships. The insular government paid crew salaries and expenses as well as having ownership of the vessels excepting the Pathfinder.^[3] All crews were Filipino.^[4]

Service History

On December 14, 1905 the ship departed Manila for work on the west coast of Luzon off Zambales province and, after a period back in Manila from April 14 through May 1, 1906, on the east coast of Luzon between Daet and Sogod.^[2]

In 1913, tragedy struck Romblon when a seaman from her crew died on Culion Island in the Calamianes Islands in Palawan Province. The man was believed to have been murdered by Tagbanuas tribesmen.^[5]

On more than once occasion, Romblon rendered assistance to mariners in distress. On 3 December 1916, Romblon searched for two men who had been blown offshore in a banca attempting to cross from Cuyo Island to Biscuay Island. She found them on Capnoyan Island, rescued them, and returned them to their homes on Cuyo Island. On 12 October 1918 she towed the disabled steamship SS Palawan from off the entrance to Manila Bay to Manila Harbor at Manila on Luzon.^[6]

Romblon was in Manila preparing to sail on October 25, 1918 when the city and vessel were hit by the influenza pandemic initially infecting fifteen of the crew and then spreading to all. Meanwhile, on November 8, Pathfinder at Puerto Princesa, Palawan had been stricken by a much more fatal epidemic infecting all and killing eight. By transfer of well crew from Fathomer the Romblon was able to go to the assistance of Pathfinder arriving November 14. On November 16 Romblon transferred five men from engineering to Pathfinder allowing that ship to get underway for Manila and hospitalization. At the request of the provincial governor the ship transported medical supplies to Brooke's Point.^[7]

Romblon was in Manila during a typhoon that hit the city August 31, 1920 losing a whaleboat while Marinduque, which had just completed extensive repairs, was damaged by another ship that broke from moorings causing considerable damage and the Manila tide station was demolished. Romblon was apparently inactive July 1, 1920 through June 30, 1921 as "only two vessels were engaged in surveying work during this period" due to inability to furnish C&GS officers for the other ships and full reports only covering Pathfinder and Fathomer with Marinduque shown working March 15-June 30, 1921 .^[8]

Fate

Romblon was retired from service in 1921.^[1]

Notes

References