The proprietor of a Philippine fishing boat has settled a declare in opposition to a Chinese bulker in reference to a collision off Occidental Mindoro earlier this month. 

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the fishing boat Ruel J was moored to a fish aggregating system off the northwestern tip of Occidental Mindoro on December 5. At about 1600, the Chinese bulker Tai Hang 8 struck the Ruel J. The fishing boat’s crew alleged that the ship continued on its voyage with out stopping, and Ruel J was left adrift. Three different fishing vessels – the Joker, Precious Heart and Jaschene – rescued the 5 crewmembers and towed their broken vessel again to shore at Sablayan. 

Image courtesy PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard reported the incident to Chinese authorities and mentioned that they might contact port state management within the bulker’s subsequent port of name. Tai Hang 8’s AIS sign was obtained solely intermittently over the next weeks, but it surely seems to have referred to as in South Kalimantan, Indonesia earlier than heading again north into the South China Sea.  

On Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard introduced that the proprietor of the Ruel J has accepted a full settlement for loss and harm attributable to the collision. The PCG began an investigation and labored with the shipowner’s agent to evaluate the harm to the fishing boat. 

In an announcement, the PCG warned “all users of the seas in the Philippines that the PCG will pursue legal actions wherever necessary for offenses committed in the country’s waters.”