PCG: China ‘monster ship’ departs Zambales coast

The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, the so-called “monster ship”, has departed from the coastline of Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.

“Based on the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) current monitoring, the China Coast Guard vessel 5901, ‘monster ship,’ has departed from the coastline of Zambales and is now approximately 90 nautical miles offshore,” the PCG said in a statement.

But the local authorities noted that another vessel from China is nearing Pandaquit, Zambales “likely serving as a replacement vessel” for CCG 5901.

“Meanwhile, the PCG has tracked CCG-3103, which left Guangdong Province yesterday and is heading directly to the previous location of the monster ship,” the Coast Guard added. “As of 3 PM today, CCG-3103 was detected by Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection at a distance of 60 nautical miles from Pandaquit, Zambales.”

While China is “sustaining its illegal presence” within the country’s exclusive economic zone, the PCG deployed an Islander helicopter and the BRP Cabra patrol vessel to the location of CGG-3103 “to monitor and challenge its presence.”

There were nine large CCG vessels, including the 5901 and the 3103, that were spotted in the Philippines’ EEZ in the highly contested West Philippine Sea.

The 165-meter, 12,000-ton "monster ship"—reputed as the largest coast guard ship in the world—was recently spotted 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island, Zambales on Saturday. This was within the 200-nautical mile EEZ of the Philippines.

The “monster ship” on Monday morning moved near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro.

The presence of the massive CCG vessel in the country’s EEZ was viewed “with concern” by Malacanang.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News