PCG assesses damage to corals after 2 barges run aground in NegOcc

INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is assessing the damage to corals after two barges, each carrying 7,500 metric tons of limestone ore, ran aground at the Campomanes Bay in Barangay Maricalum, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Sept. 14.

Ensign James Carbajosa, PCG-Southern Negros Occidental Station acting commander, said they have yet to determine whether or not B/Big Job and B/Big Sun caused damage to the corals in the area.

The two barges came from Bohol and were bound to Rio Tuba in Bataraza town in Palawan when it encountered strong winds and waves due to the southwest monsoon.

B/Big Job tilted on its side, causing its limestone ore cargo to spill into the water. B/Big Sun, on the other hand, had no cargo spill and was towed to the anchorage area on Monday, Carbajosa said.

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All 16 crew members of the two barges were safe.

Asian Shipping Company Corp., the owner of the two barges, is sending a new barge for the spilled limestone ore to be loaded on.