PCG: China Coast Guard ship rams BFAR vessel off Palawan

MANILA, Philippines — A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine fisheries ship delivering subsidized fuel to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea on Friday, damaging the vessel about 100 kilometers off Palawan, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG said China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 struck the starboard side of BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, around 11:13 a.m.

The incident occurred near Abad Santos Shoal while the BFAR vessel was on a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen, the Coast Guard said.

According to the PCG, the Chinese vessel first cut across the stern of BRP Datu Magat Salamat around 11:04 a.m., coming within about 10 meters of the Philippine ship.

Nine minutes later, while the BFAR vessel was maintaining its course, CCG-21585 repeated the maneuver and made contact with it, the PCG said.

The collision bent, broke or detached portions of the BFAR vessel’s main railings and deformed metal stanchions and support structures on its starboard side. 

Deck fixtures and equipment were also displaced, with debris scattered across the deck, according to an initial damage assessment by the Coast Guard.

The PCG said the Chinese vessel later made another maneuver and passed about five meters behind BRP Datu Magat Salamat.

The incident occurred about 11.8 kilometers north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and 100 kilometers from the coast of Palawan, according to the PCG.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered PCG surface and air assets to proceed to the area to assist the BFAR vessel and ensure the safety of its crew.

The Coast Guard described the collision as deliberate and accused the Chinese vessel of endangering the Filipino crew.

There was no immediate information from the PCG on injuries among the crew.

BRP Datu Magat Salamat was the same vessel that ran aground at Hasa-Hasa Shoal on Thursday while approaching Filipino fishing boats to distribute fuel.

BRP Malabrigo of the Philippine Coast Guard pulled the vessel free later that day after fishing boats initially failed to refloat it due to low tide and limited towing power.

The PCG also monitored a China Coast Guard aircraft conducting what it described as “apparent aerial surveillance” over the grounded vessel while the salvage operation was underway.

Beijing claims sovereignty over islands and maritime rights across nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas within the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruled that there was no legal basis for China’s claim to historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling inside its so-called nine-dash line.

China has rejected the ruling and maintains that it is “null and void.” /mr

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