'Monster' CCG ship spotted near Ayungin

The world's largest coast guard ship owned by China was spotted yesterday cruising near Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a small military outpost on the beached BRP Sierra Madre.

- GHIO ONG

Also called "The Monster," the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number 5901 "passed close by the Philippines' outpost aboard the BRP Sierra Madre at 2nd Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal," wrote maritime defense and security expert Ray Powell on his X account.

He also posted an image of the movement of the ship as tracked by satellite. The ship was reportedly cruising at 18 knots when spotted at around 9 a.m. yesterday.

The ship, which is 165 meters long and 22 meters wide, was "now headed north," Powell said on his post.

In June, Powell also monitored the ship "approaching Thitu (Pag-asa) Island." The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has yet to confirm the sailing of "The Monster."

The massive CCG ship was also spotted near Panatag Shoal, also called Bajo de Masinloc, amid reports of pipe-laying works by the Chinese.