Chinese Merchant Ship Hits Fishing Boat, Leaves 5 Stranded in Its wake

The Filipino Coast Guard on Wednesday rescued the crew of a small fishing boat left adrift for nearly a day after a Chinese shipping vessel allegedly struck the boat.

The alleged allision—in which one moving ship strikes a stationary one—took place at about 4 p.m. Tuesday in water off Palayan City in the province of Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines, according to a coast guard press statement.

Tensions are high between the two nations over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the site of standoffs, near misses and collisions between their maritime forces.

The fisherman told the coast guard that their boat had attached to a “payao” fish aggregating device, when it was struck by the China-flagged MV Tai Hang 8. The ship then continued on its way.

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The coast guard said it was notified about the stranded boat, FBCA Ruel J, at about noon on Wednesday and immediately got in touch with the owner. All five crew members appeared to be “in good physical condition,” according to the statement. Three other fishing boats towed the damaged vessel to shore.

Filipino Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilio told local media that it is unclear whether the allision, which occurred on the ship’s way to Indonesia, was intentional, Filipino news agency Rappler reported.

However, the ship crews should keep take precautions to avoid prevent such incidents, such as by appointing lookouts, Balilio said. Moreover, the crew of the Chinese ship should have taken the crew onboard according to the laws of the sea, he added.

Balilio said talks have been started with the Chinese government, a necessary step for victims to receive compensation.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment.

The coast guard said it encouraged the boat’s owner and captain to file a maritime complaint.

Tuesday’s incident recalls an accident in October in which a fishing boat moored off the coast of the northwestern Philippines was struck by a passing merchant ship. The boat capsized, killing the captain and two crew members.

In June 2019, a Chinese fishing vessel was accused of hitting an anchored Filipino fishing boat near the disputed Spratly Islands’ Reed bank, spilling its 22 occupants into the sea, then fleeing the scene in what the Filipino military dubbed a “hit and run.” The fishermen were rescued by a Vietnamese fishing boat.