Two Filipino crew members were killed and two Chinese nationals injured in a sea collision involving passenger vessels off the coast of the Batangas province in the Philippines.
The accident, which happened at about noon on Wednesday, was reported by news outlets including Xinhua and Rappler. The collision was near Matoco Point in Batangas City, involving the passenger ship MV Ocean Jet 6 and a water taxi, Hop & Go 1.
It comes as tensions in the South China Sea are at their highest in recent months. Beijing and Manila’s coastal defense forces have been locked in a battle to control the second Thomas Shoal, a reef that is part of the Spratly Islands.
JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that the collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. local time, saying that the accident significantly damaged the water taxi, which was carrying five foreign passengers and four Filipino crew members.
Two of the Filipino crew members aboard the water taxi, identified as the captain and third mate, were fatally injured, while two Chinese passengers sustained injuries.
The Ocean Jet 6, a high-speed ferry, was en route from Batangas to Calapan on the neighboring island of Mindoro with 105 passengers, including Swedes and Chinese, and had 19 crew members on board. According to The Maritime Executive on Wednesday, there were no reported injuries on the Ocean Jet 6, and it was allowed to continue on its journey to Calapan.
The remaining water taxi crew members were taken to the Coast Guard station for questioning and were cooperating with the authorities, according to The Maritime Executive. The Coast Guard sub-station in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, played a pivotal role in the emergency response, assisting in safely transporting all of the passengers and crew of the Ocean Jet 6 to Calapan.
The Philippine Coast Guard commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has suspended the safety certificates of both vessels involved in the collision, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety in the region, particularly regarding the operation of passenger vessels. The investigation is expected to shed light on the exact cause of the collision and potentially lead to measures that will prevent such accidents from happening in the future.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.