A landing craft tank (LCT) ran aground off San Jose, Romblon on Saturday, Oct. 28, but all of its 19 crew members, including the captain, were rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
LCT Ellis Mari IV was already performing an engine docking maneuver when it hit shallow waters around 3 p.m.
According to the PCG, the vessel ran aground approximately 500 yards from the shore in the municipal waters off Barangay Busay "due to strong winds and currents."
Fortunately, personnel from the Coast Guard Sub-Station Carabao Island immediately responded upon receiving a report about the incident which led to the rescue of all crew members.
"Local divers conducted vessel damage inspection and found minor scratches on her starboard (right) side near the stern (rear) area," the PCG noted.
Based on the initial investigation, LCT Ellis Mari IV departed Odiongan Port in Romblon. It has a gross tonnage of 2,978 tons, a length of 88.6 meters, and a net tonnage of 1,667 tons.
It was carrying 40 bags of tanner cement, 120 cubic meters of sand, 120 cubic meters of gravel, and five drums of diesel when the incident occurred.
The Coast Guard Sub-Station Carabao Island advised the LCT Ellis Mari IV crew to file a marine protest to document the incident, for submission to the PCG and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).