An unmanned vessel with no cargo on board ran aground at the coral sanctuary roughly 1.5 nautical miles (NM) away from the shoreline of Silaqui Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan on Monday, Dec. 27.
Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), including members of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), responded to this maritime incident involving POE 86 KUCHING.
The UPMSI assisted the local government unit (LGU) of Bolinao in determining the extent of damage.
The incident occurred at 6 a.m. before the operation was halted at around 9:50 a.m. due to rough sea conditions.
Aside from the vessel unmanned with cargo on board, the Coast Guard personnel likewise found no traces of oil at the site. This, despite the observation made that the barge was non-propelled and had no machinery.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 28 the PCG is still monitoring the said barge.