ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The sunken MV Asia Malaysia is expected to be re-floated within the month, according to a Coast Guard official.
Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Coast Guard Western Visayas commander, said Tuesday that salvage operations have shifted to the removal of the ship’s cargo for the eventual re-floating of the vessel.
The private salvor group contracted by Tran-Asia Shipping Inc. early this month successfully siphoned at least 16,000 liters of fuel from the ship’s fuel tanks.
This has eliminated risks of an oil spill, according to Ybañez.
He said the salvors were already clearing heavy cargo and debris including vehicles, cement and hardware materials and were expected to complete the salvage operation within the month if there is no weather disturbance.
“The salvage operation is relatively easier because the ship sank at shallow depth. It was only delayed due to the storms,” Ybañez said.
The 2,439-tonner vessel bound for Iloilo from Cebu sank on July 31, a few hours after its 178 passengers and crew members were transferred to passing ships and boats.
It lies 13 meters under water three miles off the coast of Manapla town in Negros Occidental.