THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has launched a search and rescue operation (SAR) for a missing seaman whose tugboat bearing a Philippine flag collided with a Panamanian-flag vessel off Maasim, Sarangani on Tuesday, March 25.
The PCG said the body of the skipper of M/TUG Sadong 33 has been retrieved from the waters at the accident site.
Sadong reportedly collided with the MV Universe Kiza shortly before dawn Tuesday.
Upon receiving the distress call, the PCG immediately deployed the SAR team rescue (SAR) team to the site.
According to the company’s project engineer who reported the incident,
M/TUG Sadong 33 had eight crew on board.
As of 8 a.m. the PCG team reportedly that six of the eight crewmen have been rescued and currently in good physical condition.
However, they also confirmed the untimely demise of M/TUG Sadong 33’s captain with the recovery of his cadaver in the incident vicinity waters.
The PCG SAR team was still searching for the missing sailor as of presstime. Meanwhile, the PCG also said their oil spill assessment yielded a negative result.