AFP-WESCOM rescues crew of grounded Vietnamese cargo vessel off Balabac, Palawan

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MANILA, Philippines — The military on Wednesday said it had extended assistance to 17 crew members of a Vietnamese cargo vessel that ran aground off Balabac town in Palawan.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines. – Western Command, through Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS) Melville, said it extended assistance to the crew of the cargo vessel M/V Dolphin 15 after it ran aground on Tuesday.

“As a good neighbor, the Philippine station accommodated and provided shelter and food,” the WesCom said in a statement.

The WesCom said the Vietnamese vessel radioed the LMS Melville and requested to take shelter and anchor in the vicinity of the monitoring station due to worsening weather and sea conditions last December 21.

On December 26, the foreign vessel was repositioned since its anchor was dragged due to strong winds and current. 

On December 27, the vessels’ crew informed WesCom that they intended to temporarily abandon their vessel “as a safety precaution due to the possibility that the ship might be tilted.”

“They requested the availability of a sheltering area for their crew,” the WesCom said.

WesCom added that the crew members also received medical and immigration assistance.

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