The tugboat MTUG SL SUAL 1 sank on August 24 off Botolan, Zambales while salvage teams were working to refloat it after more than ten days aground in the same waters.
The vessel first ran aground on August 13. Philippine Coast Guard personnel and a salvage contractor had been working the site since then. The boat went under during a towing attempt on August 24, with investigators looking into a possible collision with submerged debris as the cause.
All ten salvage workers on board were rescued. The vessel was carrying approximately 15,000 litres of diesel when it sank; coast guard personnel reported the fuel tank remained intact as of August 24 with no spill observed. PCG deployed oil-absorbent pads around the wreck as a precaution and set up a perimeter.
The sunken hull is now a hazard to navigation in the area. PCG opened a formal investigation into the sinking and is monitoring the fuel containment situation at the site.
Tugboat Sinks Off Zambales During Salvage, Diesel Cargo Intact
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