From InterAksyon (Apr 9): AFTER USS GUARDIAN | Chinese vessel runs aground in Tubbataha
As wreckage of the US minesweeper USS Guardian had just been removed at Tubbataha Reef, another vessel, this time Chinese, ran aground at the marine protected area in Palawan.
A report from Tubbataha parks superintendent Angelique Songco said the Chinese fishing vessel with hull number 63168 ran aground some 1.1 nautical miles east of the Tubbataha Reef ranger station.
The fishing vessel had 12 crew members, allegedly Chinese poachers.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the incident occurred shortly before midnight Tuesday.
The ship's crew are "most probably are Chinese poachers and illegal entrants," the Coast Guard said.
A Coast Guard rescue vessel, SARV 3503, was deployed in the area to investigate.
The USS Guardian ran aground the reef last January 17 and it took more than two months to remove the wreckage. The Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board earlier assessed the damage left by the USS Guardian at the reef to be at 2,345.67 square meters. A fine of P58.4 million will be imposed on the US Navy.
Four USS Guardian officers were also relieved because of the incident.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/58980/after-uss-guardian--chinese-vessel-runs-aground-in-tubbataha
Since the Chinese arrogantly believe that all of the South China Sea belongs to them, the Philippine Coast Guard better watch out. The captain of the Chinese vessel may attempt to fine the PCG for being in Chinese territorial waters. lol
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