Montenegro Tugboat 1 with additional provision of airbags, spill boom, water pump, generator and empty drums arrived at the incident area of MV MARIA HELENA to render additional assistance around 11:30PM, last 17 July 2023.

Last 16 July 2023, said vessel ran aground at a rocky bottom about 100 meters away from the shoreline of Barangay Nasunugan, Banton, Romblon and caused the vessel to initially list at 10 degrees to portside.

Coast Guard Station Romblon Incident Team conducted monitoring on the oil spill boom and airbags laid by the crew of MV Maria Helena.

Also, said team assisted in the continuous hauling of goods from the aground vessel and transferred to MV Maria Theresa of Montenegro Shipping Lines, the vessel's sister ship.

Further, Marine Environmental Protection Group personnel conducted continuous manual scooping of oily water mixtures.

The team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel arrived at 11AM at the incident area to conduct assessment and water sampling.

As of 1 PM of 18 July 2023, a total of four airbags were inflated to maintain stability of the vessel. Clinometer of the vessel records 11 degrees from previous recorded inclination of 15 degrees.

Progress report to follow.