Philippines says Marshall islands-registered vessel may have been involved in sea collision

Philippines says Marshall islands-registered vessel may have been involved in sea collision
Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores October 4, 2023 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/three-philippine-fishermen-de...

Philippine Coast Guard personnel pictured on October 3, 2023, retrieve the body of a fisherman on the coast of Infanta, Pangasinan Province, Philippines, after a deadly collision incident in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on October 4, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via... Acquire Licensing Rights
MANILA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - An oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands was suspected to have been involved in an 'accidental collision' with a Philippine boat in the South China Sea that killed three fishermen, the Philippine coast guard said on Wednesday.

Philippine coast guard spokesperson Armando Balilo said that the incident was under investigation but that coast guard monitoring pointed to the Pacific Anna, registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, as the likely vessel that collided with the fishing boat.

The coast guard said in a statement the Philippine boat "failed to detect" the approaching foreign vessel because of poor weather, resulting in a collision that caused the boat to capsize. Among those who died was the captain.

The coast guard said it would contact the Pacific Anna, which according to Eikon data is on its way to Singapore.

The Philippine fishing boat was anchored 85 nautical miles northwest of the disputed Scarborough Shoal when it "accidentally collided" with the transiting foreign commercial vessel on Oct. 2, the Philippine coast guard said. Eleven crew members survived.