GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – The refloating of a Chinese vessel that ran aground off Sulangan Island in this town last April 19 would take several weeks to complete, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said.
Efforts top refloat the M/V Jhe Zai 168, loaded with 55,000 metric tons of nickel ore, is facing difficulties due to the strong current, Gonzales – Kwan said.
“The area where the M/V Jhe Zai 168 ran aground is where the mouth of the Pacific Ocean is. That is why, the divers are finding difficulties to refloat the vessel because of the strong current,” Gonzales-Kwan said on Tuesday.
Based on the information she received from SMIT Salvage Singapore, the refloating of M/V Jhe Zai 168 might be completed on May 23.
The company also needs master divers for them to undertake the refloating of the vessel which was manned by 21 Chinese crew members.
Gonzales-Kwan said she asked SMIT Salvage Singapore to secure permits not only from the local government but from the Mines and Geociences Bureau, Bureau of Customs, and the Bureau of Immigration.
She said the local government is not discounting the possibility of filing a complaint in court against the crew members of the vessel for the possible environmental damage.
“We will only learn the extent of the damage to our coral reefs and sea grass once the M/V Jhe Zai 168 is completely refloated. Surely, there is damage in our coral reefs and seagrass,” she said.
In 2021, a Chinese vessel, M/V Ambition Journey, also ran aground near Sulangan Island.
The local government was able to collect P11 million from the Emir Mineral Resource Corp. for environmental damage as a result of the incident.