FLOTSAM | The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local fishermen successfully recover an apparent piece of rocket debris floating near Subic, Zambales, on Saturday. (PCG PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Suspected Chinese rocket debris was found by fisherfolk off Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday.
David Gervacio, boat captain of the Filipino fishing boat “Akiyo,” discovered “a white cylindrical shaped object” believed to be Chinese rocket debris floating in waters approximately 100 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales, on Saturday and reported it to the coast guard through radio, said Commo. Armando Balilo, spokesperson for the PCG.
The Coast Guard Station Zambales immediately responded and assisted the crew in retrieving the said debris, which measured two meters long and four meters wide. The PCG said the debris was “believed to be from a Long March 5B Rocket that was launched by China on Oct. 31 from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province.”
Debris forcibly seized
Gervacio and his crew also found on Nov. 16 suspected Chinese rocket debris in waters approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a fishing ground controlled by China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but were unable to retrieve it “due to its submerged status and its size.”
Debris from the similar rocket launch were recovered last month in two sites in Palawan and Occidental Mindoro. China’s coast guard forcibly seized Chinese rocket debris that was being towed by the Philippine Navy to Pag-asa (Thitu) Island on Nov. 20.
Drop zones
Busuanga in Palawan and Scarborough Shoal were earlier identified by the Philippine Space Agency as areas as drop zones of the debris, which were “components” that detached from the rocket “minutes after the launch.”Balilo said the PCG remained alert and ready to assist in identifying and recovering objects at sea “to ensure the safety of vessels and Filipino fisherfolk plying waters within the Philippine maritime jurisdiction.”
“Coastal barangays and local fisherfolk are reminded that floating debris at sea are notable navigational hazards that may endanger the safety of vessels and crew,” he said.