Liquefaction of the nickel ore cargo of MV Devon Bay may have caused shifting in the weight of the 55,000-ton load, forcing the vessel to tilt to one side and capsize near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last Jan. 23, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday, citing statements from the ship’s crew. “The initial statements of the crew suggest that the cargo – it was carrying around 55,000 tons of nickel ore and there was liquefaction. The moisture content of the cargo caused the shifting of the weight to the left side of the ship or the port side… and the weather was not good. There were big waves. That is the initial suspicion that we have, no conclusive data yet,” PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said.

Macairan, E., & Villanueva, R. (2026, January 27). 'Cargo liquefaction may have caused Devon Bay's sinking'. The Philippine Star, p. 4.