PCG reports oil spill from sunken Vietnamese vessel in Palawan

PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA, Philippines — An oil spill ensued after a Vietnamese vessel sank off Balabac, Palawan on Tuesday, November 21, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCG said the Vietnamese-flagged vessel Viet Hai Star carried 29,000 liters of automotive diesel oil and 4,000 metric tons of rice when it partially went under. The ship was en route to Cagayan de Oro City.

Authorities said oil sheens were spotted in the area on Thursday, prompting PCG’s marine environmental protection unit personnel to lay out oil spill booms to control the leak.

On the other hand, a team from PCG’s special operations group launched an underwater inspection to assess the vessel’s status and determine other measures that must be employed.

As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, PCG reported that Viet Hai Star became “fully flooded due to high tide and rough seas overnight.”

All 17 crew members of the vessel are in good condition, PCG added.