The Philippine Coast Guard deployed one of its vessels to render assistance to a harbour tug that had caught fire off Cebu City in the central Philippines on Monday, October 26.
The blaze on the tug Super Shuttle 3 ignited in the engine room at approximately 03:30 local time on Monday while the vessel was underway to nearby Mandaue City.
The crew worked to extinguish the blaze but were unsuccessful, prompting them to issue a distress call.
Upon learning of the incident, the coast guard despatched the Parola-class multi-role response vessel (MRRV) BRP Suluan to aid in the firefighting and search and rescue (SAR) effort. The coast guard personnel boarded the burning tug and took over the responsibility of containing the blaze, allowing the crew to safely evacuate to the MRRV waiting alongside.
The fire had spread through the rest of the superstructure but was declared under control at 04:30 and finally extinguished at 05:05.
Two of the tug's crew have suffered burn injuries and have since been brought to hospital.
Super Shuttle 3 was later towed to Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City to undergo a damage assessment by the coast guard and other local authorities.