Clock ticking for removal of barge from resort area

THE BARGE Castor II as it starts to sink in waters off Panglao town, Bohol province, after running aground at the height of stormy weather on Sunday. LEO UDTOHAN/INQUIRER VISAYAS

PANGLAO, Bohol—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bohol is asking a Cebu-based shipping firm to quickly remove its cargo vessel that sank in the waters off Panglao town to prevent further damage on the marine environment.

Lt. Benjie Quinisio, PCG station commander in Tagbilaran City, said the salvage operations to refloat the barge, Castor II, would take about two months.

“We are pressuring the owner to fast-track the removal of the vessel but the salvage plan has methodology to follow for the safety of the salvor,” Quinisio said.

Castor II, of Concrete Solutions Inc. (CSI) based in Cebu City, left Negros Oriental on July 2 and was heading for Tagbilaran City in Bohol province with a cargo of sand from San Jose town, Negros Oriental province.

While the vessel was near the coast of Panglao, it was battered by strong waves, which pushed Castor II to the shoreline where it ran aground.

The next day, the vessel slowly sank and tilted on its side before capsizing.

The 19 officers and crewmen of the barge are safe and had been transferred to tugboat, MT Pollux 5.

Darwin Menorias, head of Panglao Coastal Resource Management and Tourism Office, said CSI agreed to submit a written promise to assume responsibility for the damage caused by the barge.

He said two marine biologists would conduct a survey assessment on Friday to check the damage on corals.

The waters of Panglao are rich in marine resources.