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Local authorities in the Philippines have been struggling to tow a tanker carrying 230,000 litres of diesel fuel to safety following a collision off Southern Leyte on Saturday.

The MT Shirly Ann was stranded in shallow waters at a marine sanctuary off Padre Burgos town after its main engine malfunctioned due to a defective transmission bearing. The captain then decided to drop anchor, but rough seas and southwesterly winds forced the vessel to drift until it eventually rammed against a shallow barrier reef.

The vessel, which is reportedly owned by the South Pole Corporation of Zamboanga City, was heading for Loreto town on Dinagat island, northeast of Mindanao after leaving the Petron depot in Mandaue City, Cebu on Friday afternoon.

The main engine of the 190-tonne vessel is said to have stopped functioning upon reaching Tankaan Point, off the village of Tankaan.

According to Coastguard Chief Officer Michael Romero, there has been no report of an oil spill so far. The captain and his 11 crew members said they had prepared equipment and inspected all the fuel tanks to prevent an oil spill from taking place.

An underwater inspection of the MT Shirley Ann's hull led to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) immediately suspending the vessel's authority to sail.

Efforts to extract the vessel on Sunday night were reported to have failed because of the heavy cargo and low tide.