On Tuesday, the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel misplaced their bow in a collision with a bulker off the Philippines – after which navigated the remaining two-thirds of their boat to security. 

At about 2100 hours native time on Tuesday evening, the Taiwanese fishing vessel Sheng Feng 12 was working some 80 nm off the coast of Candon, Ilocos Sur, on the northwest finish of Luzon. The Sheng Feng collided with an unidentified vessel, suspected to be a Bangladeshi-flagged bulker en path to Indonesia. 

The Philippine Coast Guard dispatched the patrol vessel BRP Malapascua to help the broken fishing vessel. On arrival, they discovered that it had sustained harm on the bow and wanted transportable salvage pumps to dewater. 

Courtesy PCG

Sheng Feng 12 intact in 2021 (WPCFC)

A video launched by the PCG (above) confirmed the 60-foot tuna longliner was lacking the whole lot of its bow and focsle, from the stem aft to the principle deck degree, and nonetheless making approach on a fair keel. Survival and navigation after sustaining harm of this severity is feasible for a closely compartmentalized warship, however uncommon for a service provider vessel. 

The PCG beneficial that the Sheng Feng head for the closest Philippine port for repairs. By 1000 hours Wednesday, it was about 10 nm off Ilocos Sur, suggesting it had transited an extended distance in a single day after sustaining harm.