Filipino fishing banca Ruel J capsized off the waters of Paluan, Occidental Mindoro. (Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard)
MANILA, Philippines — A fishing boat was allegedly hit by a cargo ship while off the waters of Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, during a fishing expedition, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday.
PCG said the Filipino fishing boat Ruel J and bulk carrier MV Tai Hang 8 had an alleged allision on Tuesday afternoon.
All of the five crew members of Ruel J were rescued near Pandan Island in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, on Wednesday as their boat was towed by a fishing vessel.
“The ill-fated fishing banca Ruel J and its crew, allegedly hit by MV TAI HANG 8, and was said to be left adrift as the foreign vessel continued its voyage unknowingly,” the PCG said in a statement.
When the allision occurred, the boat was attached to a “payao” or a type of fish aggregating device in the country.
It can be recalled that a similar allision incident occurred off Scarborough Shoal last October, which led to the death of three crew members.
A maritime incident is described as allision — as opposed to collision — when a vessel runs over a stationary boat.