A bow-ramp deck cargo ship, the MSCI 1, has run aground off the northwest coast of Luzon, resulting in a partial capsizing and an oil spill. On June 8, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was alerted that the vessel had intentionally grounded due to adverse weather conditions near Badoc, Ilocos Norte. The ship, which was transporting gravel and had 15 crew members aboard, prompted the captain to inform the PCG that most crew would abandon ship, leaving three officers to manage the situation. Coast guard units were dispatched to monitor the incident.
By June 9, the MSCI 1 had developed a more significant port list, leading to water flooding over the gunnels. Fortunately, the crew abandoned the vessel safely and were reported to be unharmed. PCG officials confirmed that oil was leaking from the ship, prompting the deployment of spill control booms to mitigate the environmental impact. However, shifting conditions displaced the booms, resulting in an oil slick on a nearby shoreline. PCG responders, alongside partners, initiated oil recovery efforts using sorbent pads and booms.
Victor Dabalos, a provincial natural resources officer, has urged the vessel operator to promptly address the leak, believed to be originating from the engine room rather than the main fuel tanks. The MSCI 1, previously named Lei Ye 666 and built in 2011, was last inspected in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, in 2025, where it was noted to have ten deficiencies, including problems with watertight doors and the main engine.
