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EARTH-2026-0036
Resolved, and now being watched so it does not simply happen again.
The tugboat SL Sual 1, owned by SMC Shipping and Lighterage Corporation, ran aground near the mouth of the Bucao River in Botolan, Zambales on 14 August 2026 and sank on 24 August while being towed during an emergency salvage operation, settling about 200 metres from shore in roughly 24 metres of water with about 15,000 litres of diesel aboard. Ten salvage workers jumped overboard and were rescued. The Philippine Coast Guard positioned absorbent pads and oil spill response equipment, ran shoreline patrols along the Bucao River, and reported the fuel tanks intact with no oil sheen observed.
This case is documented in public reporting. Every fact on this page comes from the sources below, which are kept against the case so the record can be checked.
GMA News · Aug 24, 2026
Daily Tribune · Aug 24, 2026
Every change of state, timestamped, oldest first. Entries are added, never edited or removed, so the record of how long something took cannot be quietly improved later.
The tugboat listed and ran aground near the Bucao River mouth after strong waves and seawater entered the vessel.
Recorded by Philippine Coast Guard
The tug sank at 7:46 a.m. during towing; PCG rescued 10 workers, staged spill response equipment and patrolled the shoreline, finding no sheen and intact fuel tanks.
Recorded by Philippine Coast Guard
The measured result
Taken on a return visit after the work was done, not estimated on the day.