Stranded Chinese vessel remains in waters off Eastern Samar island

Eastern Samar map

TACLOBAN CITY — A Chinese commercial vessel that ran aground on April 19 is still in the waters off Sulangan Island, Guiuan town, Eastern Samar on Wednesday, April 26.

Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said MV/ZHE HAI 168, which was loaded with 55,000 metric tons of nickel ore from Emir Mining, was manned by 20 Chinese crew members.

The ship has yet to be salvaged as the salvor company, SMIT Salvage Singapore, arrived on Saturday, April 22 and its crew members were also waiting for barges to unload the minerals.

Gonzales-Kwan said at least 14,000 metric tons of nickel ore had to be unloaded to make the vessel float.

“All the crew members are just staying inside the vessel and we were informed that they still have enough food supply,” she said on Wednesday morning.

MV/ZHE HAI 168 was on its way to China from Homonhon Island in Guiuan when it encountered big waves that brought the ship to a shallow portion of the sea.

While she was informed by the Philippine Coast Guard that there was no oil spill, Gonzales-Kwan was anxious that the ship may have damaged some coral reefs.

“We will know the damage once the vessel is floated or removed. They have to pay us if there are damages to our coral reefs as Guiuan is a protected area,” Gonzales-Kwan said.

This was not the first time that a Chinese vessel encountered a problem in the area.

On Jan. 26, Kai Dai 899, a supply vessel with seven crew, drifted on the island village of Suluan, which faces the Pacific Ocean.

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