Standoff keeps Nokor vessel in Ilocos town

LAOAG CITY—The standoff over the removal of a North Korean vessel from the shores of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, has reached the courts while the coastal damage inflicted on the province’s tourism industry takes a back seat.

On one side is the vessel owner, Aoyang Marine Co., which has been trying to remove the MV Nam Yang 8. On the other is Mayor Matilde Sales, who sought court help to stop Aoyang from removing the vessel for fear that the town’s claim for damages will vanish with the vessel.

The regional trial court in Bangui town granted Sales’ petition for a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on May 31. A hearing is set on June 9.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has repeatedly called on Sales to allow the owner to remove the vessel along with scrap metal that had been salvaged.

Marcos said the threat of new oil seepage continues to hang over Pagudpud’s waters as long as the vessel is there.

On Monday, the provincial board recommended the 60-day preventive suspension of Sales, “effective immediately,” for defying calls for the removal of the vessel.

But the authority to remove the vessel does not lie with the mayor.

Capt. George Ursabia, district commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in northern Luzon, said the authority lies with the PCG.

Ursabia said the PCG would explain to the court the need to lift the TRO so the owner can continue with the salvaging.

“The removal of the wreck is urgent… to eliminate the threat it poses to the public and the environment,” he said.

“While salvaging is urgent, the disposal of the materials [that will be salvaged] is not,” he added.

The two-month period to salvage the vessel ended on May 16. Since last year, two salvors—Harbor Star and Pen Con Corp.—have come and gone.

Ursabia said the vessel owner should hire another salvor because the second salvor, Pen Con, had caused two cases of oil leaks in March, and earlier this month. He said PCG is studying what charges to file against Pen Con.

At least 50 percent of the vessel’s metal had been removed. He said reports of theft of scrap metal from the vessel have become rampant. The Bureau of Customs, he said, is in charge of safeguarding the scrap metal.

Mayor Sales said the salvaged materials are the town’s remaining guarantee that its claims for damages will be paid.

“If the vessel is completely taken out, we won’t have anything to hold against the vessel owner,” she said. Resort owners are likely to file separate claims for damages.

The vessel has been sitting off the shores of Barangay Balaoi for more than a year since it ran aground in January last year when it developed engine trouble on its way to China.

It was carrying magnetite ore, or black sand, extracted from Cagayan.