Tropical Storm Kristine Causes Shipping Chaos in Philippines

By Eve Church

Updated October 28, 2024 at 10:05 am Published October 28, 2024 at 11:46 am Etc/UTC

On October 23, Tropical Storm Kristine brought severe weather to the Philippines, causing significant disruptions, with waves reaching heights of up to 6 meters in some areas. Authorities have advised vessels to remain docked until conditions improve.

Despite these warnings, some ships encountered difficulties due to the harsh weather. Several vessels ran aground and sustained damage as a result.

One of the affected vessels, the LCT ASC Bigboy, broke free from its anchor chains and drifted dangerously close to the shore, coming within 160 feet of Barangay Sugod's coastline. The ship became beached and was unable to refloat using its own engines. Early reports suggest an oil leak from the ship's damaged port fuel tank, although all 17 crew members are confirmed to be safe and uninjured.

Similarly, the LCT Golden Bella, a 62-meter vessel, also broke away from its anchor chains and ran aground in Cebu. The ship will undergo a diver inspection before any efforts are made to refloat it.