A cargo ship ran aground and tilted off the coast of Siruma, Camarines Sur, on Thursday, August 7, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In a statement, Coast Guard District–Bicol reported that thirteen Filipino crew members of a cargo vessel were "safe and in good health," with no injuries or casualties reported.
Based on the initial investigation, the LCT Golden Phoenix was navigating San Miguel Bay, near Barangay Matandang Siruma, when it was hit by strong winds and large waves brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
The vessel, which was carrying construction materials for a bridge project, lost stability and tilted about 1.2 nautical miles from shore.
The PCG, together with local barangay officials, quickly responded to the incident.
"Initial attempts to conduct a full inspection were deferred due to unfavorable sea conditions. The ship’s captain and shipping company representatives have since taken immediate action, including arranging for a hull inspection by divers and preparing necessary documentation for maritime procedures," the PCG said in a statement on August 9.
Moreover, the PCG assured that "no oil spill or environmental damage" occurred despite the vessel’s heavy cargo.
Follow-up investigations by the Coast Guard Sub-Station Tamban and the Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement and Response Group confirmed that the grounding was caused by strong winds and currents in the area.
