UNIVERSE KAISA

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Tug in collision with bulk carrier - two dead

On March 25, 2025, at around 4:20 a.m .LT, the Philippine-flagged tug 'Sadong 33' with eight crew members on board, capsized after the 'Universe Kaisa' en route to Iligan City, ran over the tug’s towline in the waters near Maasim, Sarangani Province, after this snapped. The bulk carrier had attempted to pass between the 'Sadong 33' and the 59 meter long landing craft LCT 'Sea Asia' (IMO: 8843551), while the these were en route from Glan, Sarangani to Iligan City. The 'Sadong 33' had between 50 to 100 meters of towline during the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) promptly deployed an SAR team and three boats to the scene. At 8:00 a.m. theSAR team rescued six crew members in good health. However, the captain of the tug was found dead, while one more crew member was initiall still missing. He was working as an oiler and was recovered dead too. The PCG identified the fatalities as Andres Diaz Jr., and his aide, John Jeter Labor. The PCG has ordered the Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao to conduct a maritime casualty investigation and tasked the Harbor Star Salvage Company with retrieving the capsized tug. The PCG conducted an oil assessment following the collision. As of now no oil pollution was observed. The Chinese-owned 'Universe Kiza' has been detained. It was sent to the anchorage at General Santos City. The Coast Guard has instructed its legal officers to handle the filing of appropriate charges against the master and crew of the 'Universe Kiza'. The vessel was transporting a cargo of concrete from Vietnam. Reports with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/two-killed-as-bulker-runs-over-tug-s-towline-in-the-philippines https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/24/at-least-1-dead-as-ph-tugboat-panamanian-flagged-ship-collide-off-sarangani

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