A TOTAL of 13 crew members were successfully rescued after a fishing vessel named Anita DJ II submerged around seven nautical miles from the shoreline of Cape Santiago, Barangay Bagong Silang, Calatagan, Batangas waters off Calatagan, Batangas on Sunday morning.
At 6:45 AM, Coast Guard Station (CGS) Batangas received a phone contact from Agutaya police stating authorities of an alleged submerged vessel within Batangas’ jurisdiction.
The Coast Guard received information from the mother of one of the crew that the distressed boat was submerged in the waters off the coast of Batangas.
Further reports revealed that the distressed boat with gross tonnage of 448.83 tons and net tonnage 273.59 tons is owned by IRMA Fishing which departed Navotas Port bound for Palawan fishing grounds.
Coast Guard Station Batangas coordinated with IRMA Fishing Company and directed them to provide a tugboat for the towing operation of the subject vessel.
Search and rescue team of Coast Guard Sub Station (CGSS) Calatagan sighted the distressed vessel and immediately approached the fishing banca Rainbow Warrior to rescue the 13 crew onboard and bring them to the neareast shoreline.
The search and rescue team along with 13 rescued crew members of the said vessel safely arrived at CGSS Calatagan. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also provided medical assistance to the rescued crew.
BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410), a 44-meter multi-role response vessel operated by PCG, was dispatched to respond to the distress vessel. MRRV 4410 reported the stricken vessel to be half-submerged about 1:35PM and confirmed its sinking at 3:17PM in waters 2.16 nautical miles south southwest of Cape Santiago in Calatagan Island.
Further investigation to the crew into the reason of the mishap is currently ongoing.
The PCG also coordinated with the MDRRMO to prepare available oil spill response and local tourism officials to inform resort owners and local barangays to be vigilant for possible oil spill.
CGS Batangas informed Marine Environmental Protection Group and Coast Guard Station Mabini Batangas to coordinate to oil companies for assistance of possible oil spill response.
