Recover vessel’s fuel this week, salvage firm told

THE salvor company hired to recover the sunken MV Maria Angelica Grace was told to start drawing the 8,000 liters of diesel fuel in the vessel within this week.

“The threat to marine life is still there due to the presence of 8,000 liters of diesel ins the vessel,” Station Commander Weniel Azcuna of the Coast Guard-Cebu station said.

The Uni Orient Pearl Venture Inc. was hired by Salvador Rapal of Rapal Shipping Lines that owned the sunken vessel.

“I told the Uni Orient to expedite the survey and to start the removal of the fuel and later the vessel,” Azcuna said.

Personnel of the Uni Orient Pearl Venture Inc. began to survey the site last Wednesday.

A comprehensive plan on how to draw out the 8,000 liters of diesel and salvaging of the vessel will follow.

“It will help determine when the salvor can recover the vessel,” Azcuna said.

Aside from the threat to the environment the wharf owner named Hector Wong complained that the docked ships were affected by the presence of the sunken vessel.

Last Monday this week, Azcuna said there was no more bilge oil coming out of the capsized vessel.

The Coast Guard were able to manually scoop 500 liters of oil from the vicinity of the capsized vessel.

Azcuna said the Coast Guard will issue a survey permit to the company.

The MV Maria Angelica Grace capsized due to huge waves caused by a passing vessel last March 11.

When the accident happened, MV Angelica Grace was loading the rolling cargoes with sacks of rice and sugar for Masbate. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos and Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan