MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday deployed its air asset to assist in the search-and-rescue operation of a missing fishing vessel last seen in Palau.
The deployment was in response to the request of Taiwan Coast Guard Attaché Commander Arthur Yang who reported about the missing Taiwanese fishing ship.
The PCG Command Center ordered the dispatch of its aircraft to conduct aerial surveillance within the waters of Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions since there is a possibility that the fishing vessel Sheng Feng No. 128 drifted there.
“At around 07:30 a.m. today, 27 February 2023, the Coast Guard Aviation Force has dispatched Cessna Caravan 2081 to conduct aerial surveillance within the vicinity waters of Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions due to the possibility that the missing Taiwanese fishing vessel drifted towards the country’s eastern seaboard,” the PCG said in its incident report.
The PCG said the fishing vessel, with one Taiwanese and five Indonesian fishermen on board, was last seen 414 nautical miles northwest of Palau last February 17.
Citing Yang, the PCG said two aircraft of the United States’ Coast Guard conducted air surveillance, and one commercial vessel conducted a search at the scene without finding anything.
Yang further relayed that two Taiwan Coast Guard cutters are on the way to search the waters, while eight Taiwanese vessels will join the operations, according to the PCG.
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