PCG rescues 17 Vietnamese from sinking vessel off Palawan

The Philippine Coast Guard, along with the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, rescued 17 Vietnamese from the waters of Balabac, Palawan on Tuesday.

According to the PCG, it responded to a distress call from the Viet Hai Star, a general cargo ship from Ho Chi Minh City carrying 4,000 tons of rice bound for Cagayan de Oro.

Based on a report, water entered the 16-year old ship from the starboard side of the bow that completely flooded the forward compartments. It ran aground about 800 yards off Balabac Port.

The crew decided to abandon ship at 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday, and all 17 foreign crew members were successfully rescued by responding Coast Guard and police seacraft, with all arriving at Balabac Port in good condition.

 The Viet Hai Star was reported half-submerged by 9:21 a.m.

 An oil spill assessment has so far yielded a negative result within the vicinity of the vessel.
—RF, GMA Integrated News