In response to the President's directive for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to conduct investigation into the collision incident involving F/Bca DEARYN and an unidentified foreign vessel last 02 0420H October 2023, the Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan (TF KsK) headed by Coast Guard Vice Admiral (CG VADM) Joseph Coyme who also is the head of the PCG Fact-Finding Committee, spearheaded the retrieval operations of  F/Bca DEARYN.

Immediately following the incident, the Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC) through the Maritime Casualty Investigation Service (MCIT) conducted a maritime casualty investigation. Upon documenting the accounts of the survivors, CG ADM Artemio Abu, Commandant, PCG issued a directive to conduct Retrieval Operations.

The Retrieval Operations was executed into three phases, namely: aerial survey, security and salvage operations.

During the first phase, a PCG Cessna Caravan (PCG 2081), along with personnel from MCIS and the Coast Guard Public Affairs (CGPA), conducted a maritime aerial survey on October 7, 2023, to confirm the location of F/Bca DEARYN.

Once the location was confirmed, BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403) was deployed on October 8, 2023, to the last known position of F/Bca DEARYN, approximately 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan. On October 9, 2023, BRP Malapascua located and secured the floating debris of F/Bca DEARYN, which was identified with SSEN Nr 00-0004252. The boat was found capsized, with both outriggers detached and missing, and its fishing gear suspended in the water.

The third phase involved salvage operations carried out by MTUG AVIOR of Harbor Star Shipping, a certified salvor company, with four MSSC augmented personnel. MTUG AVIOR departed from the Port of Navotas on October 10, 2023, and rendezvoused with BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403) on October 11, 2023. They successfully towed F/Bca DEARYN, despite unfavorable sea conditions to Zambales, with BRP Malapascua (MRRV 4403) providing security.

On October 14, 2023, MTUG AVIOR arrived in the vicinity waters of Masinloc, Zambales, and began the refloating (uprighting) of F/Bca DEARYN. It was successfully uprighted on the same day around 1934H. Subsequently, the MCIT conducted a post-structural assessment of the capsized F/Bca DEARYN on October 15, 2023.

The retrieval of F/Bca DEARYN is essential for the ongoing investigation by the PCG Fact-Finding Committee. The PNP Crime Laboratory will then evaluate the physical evidence of the accident, including the scuff marks, to help identify the vessel of interest (VOI) responsible for the very serious maritime casualty.