Tanker, dredger collide off Corregidor; 2 dead

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino and a Chinese national died while three other Chinese are still missing when their vessel, a Sierra Leone-flagged dredger, capsized after colliding with a chemical/oil tanker Friday night off Corregidor Island, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

Initial report released by the PCG showed that the two fatalities were crewmembers of the MV Hong Hai 189. The Filipino fatality was a safety officer who died at the Bataan General Hospital after being plucked out of the water. The Chinese fatality was found during search and rescue operations at 7:30 a.m. yesterday.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said search and rescue operations continue for the three missing Chinese nationals. No details were released regarding the identities of the fatalities and the missing.

The PCG first dispatched the BRP Capones after PCG’s sub-station in Corregidor received information about the collision. Also involved in the search and rescue operations were an unnamed PCG vessel and smaller boats.

PCG’s Aviation Force conducted an aerial survey around the site of the mishap.

Balilo said divers have also been dispatched “to look for the missing crew who might be trapped inside the capsized dredger.”

The PCG report did not say where the two ships were heading when the disaster struck at around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

The last known port call of Hong Hai was Botolan in Zambales, while the Marshall Island-flagged tanker MT Petite Soeur reportedly came from Mariveles in Bataan.

The ill-fated Hong Hai had 16 Chinese and four Filipino crewmembers. There were no reports of casualty or injury among the 21 crewmembers of Petite Soeur, now being held and awaiting “control inspection” at the Port of Mariveles.

“The authorities will conduct a port state control inspection on MT Petite Soeur, to hold and detain the vessel,” the PCG said.