Skipper, 4 passengers rescued as yacht drifts off Palawan

MANILA, Philippines—Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard station in Coron in northern Palawan rescued on Monday the captain and four passengers of the motor yacht Palawan Princess, which drifted after having engine trouble off Dibatoc Island, according to the PCG headquarters in Manila.

In a report, the PCG said on Wednesday that the skipper and passengers of the vessel had “safely arrived in Lualhati Wharf (in Coron) and [were] in good physical condition.”

The command identified the yacht captain as Simon Buxton, but did not name the yacht’s four passengers.

PCG investigation disclosed that the vessel “departed [from] Subic Bay on Jan. 24.”

The vessel was on its way to Puerto Princesa City when it encountered engine trouble on Jan. 28, five nautical miles off Dibatoc Island, also in Coron town, the Coast Guard said.

Upon learning about the troubled vessel, Coast Guard personnel “promptly rescued  the captain and the vessel’s passengers and towed the distressed yacht to Lualhati Wharf,” the PCG said.