Nine crew members were safely rescued on August 14 after their vessel, Tugboat SL SUAL 1, ran aground off the coast of Barangay Bangan in Botolan, Zambales.
A joint response team composed of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the local Botolan Response Team and municipal fisherfolk conducted the joint rescue operation.
According to the vessel’s crew, the tugboat was at anchor when seawater began flooding in through a breached hull. To prevent the vessel from sinking, the crew intentionally grounded the tugboat in shallow waters.
All nine crew members were brought to safety and reported to be in good physical condition. Responding teams confirmed that no oil spill was detected in the surrounding waters.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan praised the responding personnel for their swift and coordinated actions, emphasizing the agency’s mandate to safeguard lives at sea.
The PCG noted that the operation highlights the continued implementation of its Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (ICARE) program and the “ONE at Sea” strategic framework during maritime emergencies.