Foreign oil tanker towed from Batanes after catching fire

TUGUEGARAO CITY — A crude oil tanker from China that was anchored in Batanes Island after it recently caught fire has been towed by a salvage boat on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard in northern Luzon said.

The Aframax tanker came from Laizhou, China and was heading to Singapore when fire erupted from its engine while it was sailing some 17-nautical miles east of Orchid Island in Taiwan on Dec. 7.

The vessel’s crew immediately sent a distress call, the coast guard said. At least eight of the 24 crew were reportedly evacuated from the ship while the rest tried to put the fire out.

The tanker was initially scheduled for towing on Saturday but it was delayed due to the rough seas.

JE