PCG to help refloat grounded Chinese vessel
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Coast Guard will help refloat the Chinese vessel Min Long Yu which ran aground on Monday night at the Tubbataha National Marine Park in the Sulu Sea, according to the PCG commandant.
Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena on Tuesday said “once the boat is freed from its current position and able to move using its own propulsion, (the PCG search-and-rescue ship) BRP Romblon will escort it to Puerto Princesa City.”
In a report, the PCG head also said PCG personnel were “evaluating the status of the Chinese vessel and the persons on board on the boat.”
He added, “the Philippine Navy Islander (aircraft) was not able to conduct its scheduled flight this morning to check out the grounded Chinese vessel.”
The vessel is 48 meters long (20 meters shorter than the USS Guardian) and it is based in Fujian, China, according to initial coast guard investigation.
Tubbataha Reef, which has an area of 97,030 hectares (about 374.6 square miles), is located 93 nautical miles southeast of the Palawan capital. It is part of the Palawan island-municipality of Cagayancillo.
