ZAMBOANGA CITY – A vessel that ran aground after accidentally navigating shallow waters nearly sank during its approach to a pier in Sulu province on Monday, Jan. 16.
The Philippine Coast Guard Station in Sulu readily extended assistance to crew members of M/V Melyn Express which was executing a docking maneuver while approaching Tanjung Pier when it hit a bottom.
This resulted in the vessel taking in water which reached the main engine, causing it to become half-submerged in seas off Barangay Kajatian, in Indanan town.
PCG personnel from Western Sulu station responded to the distressed vessel and assisted to evacuate the crew.
An assessment later made by the PCG’s marine environmental protection showed a negative result on oil spill.