A Philippine cargo ship sank in a Southern Philippine port on Tuesday after being hit by a larger Singaporean vessel which had mechanical problems, the coastguard said.
The 8,533-tonne MV Pacific Eagle rammed the MV Dingalan Bay while docking at the wharf of Davao city, coastguard commander rear admiral Ruben Lista said.
MV Dingalan slowly sank after taking in water through a hole caused by the collision, he said. No casualties were reported.
It has sunk, we can only see the bridge now, Lista said. Coastguard personnel have placed an oil-spill containment boom in the area where the vessel went down as oil from its submerged fuel tank was leaking, he said.
Lista said that a Special board of marine inquiry was to be convened immediately to get explanations from the captains of both vessels.
But based on a preliminary investigation, the skipper of the Singaporean ship had acknowledged having problems with his vessel's steering wheel and engine, the official said.
MV Dingalan Bay was carrying a shipment of steel, automobiles and industrial materials when it sank, port officials said.
The Singaporean ship had arrived from the port of Cebu in the central Philippines, but its cargo was unknown.
Bureau Report