Photo credit: PCG
PCG responded to a collision between the vessel Hong Hai 189 and and the Petite Soeur at the vicinity waters off Corregidor Island on 28th of April 2023. The Philippine Coast Guard identified the vessels as the Sierra Leone-flagged dredger Hong Hai 189 and the Marshall Islands-flagged chemical / oil product tanker Petite Soeur.
The Coast Guard reported that the Hong Hai 189 capsized. The Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Capones, was directed to proceed to the incident area. The early reports from the coast guard indicate that the accident has proven fatal for some individuals.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Aviation Force conducted an aerial survey to augment the search and rescue operations. The Philippines dispatched on 29th of April another vessel, plus aluminum boats and rubber boats, to assist the operations.
Today the Philippine Coast Guard gave an update on the accident stating that it monitors the towing operations for the capsized Hong Hai 189.
Specifically they monitored the towing operations for the capsized Hong Hai 189 from Corregidor Island to the vicinity waters off Barangay Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan.
Mtug Tirad Pass safety towed the distressed vessel approximately 400 yards from Sisiman Lighthouse. Furthermore, coast guard personnel also installed oil spill booms as a precautionary measure as they observed no trace of an oil spill during the assessment.
