An oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands was suspected to have been involved in an “accidental collision” with a Philippine boat in the South China Sea that killed three fishers, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Armando Balilo said that the incident was under investigation, but that coast guard monitoring pointed to the Pacific Anna, registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, as the likely vessel that collided with the fishing boat.
The coast guard said in a statement that the Philippine boat “failed to detect” the approaching foreign vessel because of poor weather, resulting in a collision that caused the smaller boat to capsize. Among those who died was the captain.
Photo: AFP / handout / Philippine Coast Guard
The coast guard said it would contact the Pacific Anna, which was on its way to Singapore, according to Eikon data.
The Philippine fishing boat, the F/B Dearyn, was anchored 85 nautical miles (157.42km) northwest of the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) on Monday when it “accidentally collided” with the transiting foreign commercial vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Eleven crew members survived.
A police report said the fishers died due to “possible head trauma” from the collision.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he was saddened by the deaths of the three fishers and assured their families his government would “hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident.”
Marcos said the incident was under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision.
“Let us allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime,” Marcos wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Balilo said that the Pacific Anna’s owner has yet to be determined.
There was no indication that the deadly accident was related to the long-simmering territorial disputes in the busy waterway. The disputed shoal is claimed by the Philippines and China, as well as Taiwan.
Additional reporting by AP
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