The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stated on Thursday (April 17th) that a dredging vessel carrying 25 people capsized in the waters off western Philippines earlier this week, resulting in the death of four individuals, including one Chinese citizen, with seven others still missing.
The “MV Hong Hai 16,” flying the Philippine flag, capsized near Barangay Malawa in Occidental Mindoro province on April 15th, carrying 2,000 liters of lubricant oil and 30,000 liters of diesel fuel. To prevent oil spill contamination, containment booms have been deployed at the site.
According to Reuters, divers found two bodies during the search and rescue operation on Thursday, raising the death toll to four. The vessel had a total of 13 Filipino and 12 Chinese crew members on board, with six Filipinos and eight Chinese already rescued.
The ship is still partially submerged, and the cause of the accident has yet to be disclosed. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were moderate.
The Coast Guard emphasized, “We continue to remain on-site, committed to the safety of all personnel, while preparing to address potential environmental impacts.”
According to The Inquirer, the “Hong Hai 16” is operated by Keen Peak, but according to Equasis data, the ship’s operator is DFS Maritime Services based in Malaysia.
The incident was initially reported by Rizal town, and the Coast Guard’s San Jose Outpost promptly initiated response efforts. The Coast Guard has completed underwater assessments and begun cutting the ship’s hull to facilitate rescue operations by divers.
The status of the ship’s insurance company remains unknown. Public records indicate that the “Hong Hai 16” underwent five port state control inspections in China, Malaysia, and Singapore between 2016 and 2017, during which it was never detained.