
A Vietnamese fishing boat submerged inside an atoll in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Navy (PN) disclosed on Thursday, Aug. 1.
PN spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos said the sunken vessel has a bow number of Q. Ng 96554 TS.
The PN’s Naval Forces West received a report that a Vietnamese fishing boat sank inside the vicinity waters of Quirino (Jackson) Atoll, a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen approximately 140 nautical miles west of Palawan, last July 30.
The PN deployed patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) to the area to verify the report.
Lt. Cdr. Christofer Neil Calvo, commanding officer of PS16, said they arrived in the vicinity of the said atoll and immediately deployed a rescue team.
However, the boat was located by the PN without personnel onboard, suggesting that the crew had abandoned the vessel. Since no crew was sighted in the area, it was not clear why the boat sank.
Assorted food and beverages were observed floating near the vessel, Alcos noted.
Alcos said it was later confirmed by the PS16 that the crew of the sunken boat were rescued by another vessel.
Alcos said the PN’s immediate response was a testament to their commitment to preserve its partnership with “like-minded” nations that support a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
“This is also a reassurance that the Philippine Navy stands ready to assist Filipino and foreign fishermen alike in the West Philippine Sea,” he noted.