The unfortunate incident occurred while the fishermen were aboard their vessel, F/B Dearyn, which was anchored in a fishing area within the open waters off the northwestern Philippines. In the early hours of Monday, the boat was struck by the passing vessel, leading to its capsizing and the tragic loss of its skipper and two crew members. Three other fishermen who were on board the Dearyn at the time managed to survive, according to the coast guard. Simultaneously, eight additional individuals were fishing independently on smaller boats when the accident unfolded.
The coast guard attributed the collision to adverse weather conditions and the darkness, which hindered the crew on the mother boat from detecting an unidentified vessel approaching. This resulted in the collision and subsequent capsizing of the Dearyn.
The exact cause of the three fishermen’s deaths, whether it was a result of injuries sustained during the collision or drowning, remains unclear. A police report suggests “possible head trauma” due to the collision. The bodies of the deceased were returned to their hometown in northern Philippines by the surviving fishermen and their companions.
Notably, there is no evidence to suggest a connection between this tragic accident and the longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The incident took place over 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest of Scarborough Shoal, a fishing atoll that has been a source of tension between China and the Philippines. Recent disputes over Scarborough Shoal were ignited when the Philippine coast guard removed a floating barrier set up by the Chinese coast guard at the shoal’s entrance to deter Filipino access.
Expressing his condolences, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed an ongoing coast guard investigation into the incident. He stated, “We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident.”
Based on initial assessments, which relied on the accounts of surviving fishermen and sea traffic data at the time of the accident, it is suspected that a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands may have collided with the Filipino fishing boat. As part of the ongoing investigation, the Philippine coast guard will endeavor to locate the oil tanker and its crew.
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