Foreign vessel runs aground in Subic Bay

Singapore-registered container vessel NYK Joanna hits the shallow portion of the waters off McMany’s Point in Subic, Zambales after avoiding collision with a fishing boat. Photo from Subic Coast Guard Station

SUBIC, ZAMBALES – A container vessel registered in Singapore ran aground off Subic Bay early Thursday morning (April 19) as it attempted to avoid a fishing boat.

Commander Paolo Abejuela, chief of the  Coast Guard Subic station, said  NYK Joanna was leaving Subic Bay and was headed for Manila at past midnight when it veered away to prevent a collision with the boat.

“The cargo vessel hit the shallow portion of the waters off McMany’s Point when it avoided the fishing vessel,” Abejuela told the Inquirer.

Abejuela said the cargo vessel suffered minimal damage from hard corals, but not a coral reef, which would have made it a protected area.

The inspection team from the Philippine Coast Guard and a towage company did not detect any leak in the vessel’s hull nor find oil traces in the surface water.

“There was no damage to the cargo vessel,” Abejuela said.

The vessel was extracted from the area about 11 a.m. and was anchored on a safe place for further assessment that it is seaworthy before the ship is allowed to sail, he said./lb