Sunken ship off Lapu-Lapu’s coast to be cut to pieces

THE cargo boat carrying 23,000 of bags of cement that sank off barangay Canjulao in Lapu-Lapu City in July 2012 has not yet been refloated seven months after it sank.

Lapu Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has ordered the city’s Coastal Enforcement Coordinator Andy Berame to monitor salvage operations of the sunken ship and fast-track its removal from the busy Mactan Channel.

Berame said that their underwater survey revealed that while the sunken ship now does not pose environment risk, it is a risk to passing ships.

The Omega Steel and Marine Services was hired by the owner of M/V B & E of Uno Transport Corporation to salvage the ship.

The original plan was to refloat the ship but now, the salvage plan was changed.

Instead, the salvors will cut the ship into pieces and bring it to the surface.

The salvage operation is set to be finished in a month’s time.

The M/V B&E sank on July 1, 2012 while waiting to dock in Pier 4 of Cebu City due to strong winds.

The boat captain tried to maneuver the ship towards the shore but sank in shallow water.