On Friday morning, May 5, a Sierra Leone-flagged dredger, MV Hong Hai 189, sunk off the coast of Bataan after colliding with another foreign-flagged vessel.

This resulted in yet another oil spill in the area, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to take immediate action.

The PCG personnel installed oil spill booms and absorbent bags to contain the spill and prevent further damage to the surrounding waters.

Although the sunken vessel released an estimated 30 to 50 liters of fuel and other mixed substances, no additional traces of oil spill were observed in the area.

The PCG continues to monitor the situation for any further measures.

This incident follows the collision of MV Hong Hai with Marshall Island-flagged oil tanker MT Petite Soeur off Corregidor Island on April 28, which resulted in the death of three crew members and the disappearance of two others.