The world’s biggest coast guard cutter has been seen again for the first time in almost a year in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with hull No. 5901 is 165 meters long and 22 meters wide—equivalent to about one and one-half of an average football field—and weighs 12,000 tons. Maritime monitor SeaLight said the CCG vessel, dubbed the “monster ship,” passed some 74 kilometers (40 nautical miles) off Itbayat town in Batanes province on Sunday.

Mendoza, J. E., Dumalag, G. (2026, January 28). Chinese 'Monster ship' seen anew in WPS. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.