Singapore-registered container vessel NYK Joanna hits the shallow portion of the waters off McMany鈥檚 Point in Subic, Zambales after avoiding collision with a fishing boat. Photo from Subic Coast Guard Station
SUBIC, ZAMBALES 鈥� A container vessel registered in Singapore ran aground off Subic Bay early聽Thursday聽morning (April 19) as it attempted to avoid a fishing boat.
Commander Paolo Abejuela, chief of the聽 Coast Guard Subic station, said聽 NYK Joanna was leaving Subic Bay and was headed for Manila at past聽midnight聽when it veered away to prevent a collision with the boat.
鈥淭he cargo vessel hit the shallow portion of the waters off McMany鈥檚 Point when it avoided the fishing vessel,鈥� Abejuela told the Inquirer.
Abejuela said the cargo vessel suffered minimal damage from hard corals, but not a coral reef, which would have made it a protected area.
The inspection team from the Philippine Coast Guard and a towage company did not detect any leak in the vessel鈥檚 hull nor find oil traces in the surface water.
鈥淭here was no damage to the cargo vessel,鈥� Abejuela said.
The vessel was extracted from the area about聽11 a.m.聽and was anchored on a safe place for further assessment that it is seaworthy before the ship is allowed to sail, he said./lb