On May 6, the capsized dredger MV Hong Hai 189 finally sank near the historic Corregidor island which is at times visible at the entrance of Manila Bay.
On April 28, in the evening, the Sierra Leone-flagged dredger MV Hong Hai 189 collided with Marshall Island-flagged chemical/oil tanker MT Petite Soeur near Corregidor. MV Hong Hai 189 was inbound coming from Botolan, Zambales according to PCG; while MT Petite Soeur had just gotten under way from a petroleum terminal in Mariveles, Bataan. The two collided at a speed of 6 knots, and as a result, MV Hong Hai 189 capsized.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is still determining whether the vessels were in a crossing situation or an overtaking situation under COLREGs.
Three days after MV Hong Hai 189 capsized in the waters of Corregidor, the dredger was towed.
The PCG said it monitored the motor tugboat MTUG Tirad Pass as it safely towed MV Hong Hai 189 to Barangay Sisiman in Mariveles, Bataan, which is about 400 yards from the Sisiman Lighthouse.
More than a week after the capsizing, MV Hong Hai 189 finally sank off Mariveles, Bataan. Two dredgers had tried to keep her afloat.
Photo credit: PCG
Photo credit: PCG
Photo credit: PCG
Before the sinking, PCG Station Bataan and the Marine Environmental Protection Unit helped install oil spill booms to ensure there would be no oil spill from dredger MV Hong Hai 189, still reeling from the disastrous oil spill due to MV Empress Princess that sunk off Eastern Mindoro in February 2023.
The PCG installed oil spill booms even if it had not observed any oil spill as yet in the area.
“The Coast Guard Aviation Force conducted an aerial survey to augment the SAR operations,” PCG noted.
PCG redoubled its environmental protection efforts after the dredger went down, with deployment of absorbent bags.
So far, only a minimal quantity of petroleum has been detected outside of the containment area, amounting to at most 50 liters. The PCG continues to monitor the wreck site.
Photo credit: PCG
MV Hong Hai 189 was towed for safety reasons, to remove obstructions to other vessels passing along the waters of Corregidor Island, according to PCG-National Capital Region.
“PCG facilitated the towing of the capsized MV Hong Hai 189 as part of a safety endeavor in removing hazards along the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the approaches of Manila Bay and as a mitigating measure for oil spill,” the PCG-NCR said.
The 20 crewmembers of MV Hong Hai 189 comprised 16 Chinese and 4 Filipinos. 15 crewmembers survived, 3 died and 2 went missing or may have drowned, 1 of whom was recently found under the sunken dredger. In addition of the explanation of the casualty count, PCG said 16 were rescued, two of whom were brought to the Bataan General Hospital, but one later died.
On Sunday, May 7, PCG terminated the dive search for the dredger’s missing crew member but maintained its floating assets to continue with search operations.
PCG has sought the assistance of coastal barangays nearby and issued a Notice to Mariners to alert all passing ships near Corregidor Island to be on the lookout for the missing crewmember.
MT Petite Soeur has been anchored in Mariveles, Bataan since the incident. She is detained and cannot leave until she is cleared of any liability or responsibility in the sea mishap. MT Petite Soeur’s 21 crewmen are in good physical condition. No injuries or casualties were reported aboard MT Petite Souer.
The tanker MT Petite Soeur had 150,000 liters of diesel oil onboard. MT Petite Soeur did not sustain any damage as a result of the collision.
A previous oil spill disaster in February was due to the sinking of MT Princess Empress off Oriental Mindoro, which carried 900,000 liters (318 tons) of industrial fuel oil (Black Oil) of which over 72 tons were released into the sea and coated pristine beaches, diving spots, sickenned dozens of residents, and threatened its tourist industry, and rich marine biodiversity. The resultant oil slick that stretched for 75 miles, threatened hundreds of fishing communities near Pola, MIndoro as well as biodiversity in more than 20 marine protected areas. Hundreds of coastal villages across 9 Oriental Mindoro towns were placed under a “state of calamity.” MT Princess Empress encountered engine trouble during a stormy day but still sailed. She was later found by a Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle, at a depth of nearly 400 meters and about 7.5 nm from Balingawan Point facing Pola. DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said that as of March 10, 2023 oil from the ship was leaking at a rate of 35,000 to 50,000 liters per day. Defense Chief Carlito Galvez confirmed the U.S. and Japan will help in the clean-up by deploying naval units. RDC Reield Marine Services Inc. is the owner of MT Princess Empress, which is owned by the Cabial family. The ship was so old and had already been scrapped, contrary to the claim that it is a brand new ship. It had no permit to sail. The PCG has announced that the oil slick has now been cleared. Nevertheless, threats to the reefs and other marine life has renewed calls for the Philippine government to ban oil tankers from passing through the Verde Island Passage.
References:
Source: Maritime Executive, https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/capsized-dredger-finally-sinks-off-corregidor
Source: Evelyn Macairan, Sunken dredger towed to Bataan – Coast Guard, PHILSTAR (May 3, 2023), https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/metro-cebu/2023/05/03/2263321/sunken-dredger-towed-bataan-coast-guard
