MANILA, Philippines?A North Koren-flagged cargo vessel was listing to its port side and in danger of sinking after it was buffeted by giant waves in the waters of Aparri, Cagayan, Thursday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday.

The rocking caused the MV Nam Yang 8?s cargo to shift to one side and its main engine to conk out, forcing the crew to abandon ship, said PCG spokesperson Commander Arman Balilo.

?The PCG-Northern Luzon is monitoring the condition of the Nam Yang 8 and is making plans to tow it back to Aparri. They are also coordinating with the agent or its shipping company,? he said.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, the 3,461-ton vessel which was listing 46 degrees was 73 meters from the shore of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the PCG said.

Balilo said the ship left Aparri for China at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 31 carrying 2,800 metric tons of iron sand or magnetite, a magnetic material commonly used in the manufacture of steel, magnets, paints, ink and cosmetics.

Cagayan provincial police chief Roberto Damian told Agence France-Presse the 22-man North Korean crew managed to save themselves by deploying a lifeboat after abandoning ship.

They made it to the shore of nearby Claveria town Friday morning when local residents helped them, said Damian in his report to Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

All the crew members were in good health, except for one who was injured by the ship?s propeller, Damian said.

He said immigration authorities were checking if the North Koreans had the required work permits, the Associated Press reported.

The ship?s captain, Jon Ki-Ung, told local officials the vessel listed to its port or left side because of its unbalanced cargo, the Agence France-Presse reported. With Agence France-Presse, Associated Press reports