Cargo Ship Runs Aground in Camarines Sur

A cargo ship ran aground off Siruma, Camarines Sur, on Thursday, per the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The ship’s 13 Filipino crew members were reported to be safe, and fortunately, nobody was injured.

According to reports, the LCT Golden Phoenix was navigating San Miguel Bay close to Barangay Matandang Siruma when it was caught amidst powerful winds and waves brought by the southwest monsoon. The ship, carrying construction materials for a bridge project, lost stability and tilted about 1.2 nautical miles from the shore.

The PCG, along with Barangay officials, quickly responded to the accident, but early attempts to conduct a full inspection were deferred due to unfavourable sea conditions. The ship’s captain and the shipping company representatives took action by conducting a hull inspection and preparing the necessary documentation for maritime procedures.

Despite the heavy cargo on board, the PCG assured that no spill or environmental damage had occurred. Follow-up investigations by the Coast Guard Sub-Station Tamban and the Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement and Response Group revealed that the grounding was caused by powerful winds and currents in the region.