City demands payment for ship’s damage on shore

THE MV Unilink 2 on the shore of Naga City PHOTO FROM NAGA CITY LGU

CEBU CITY—The city government of Naga in southern Cebu province is demanding damage payment from the owners of a ship that slammed into the city’s boardwalk after it was swept to shore by strong winds and waves on Tuesday.

Naga City officials are also preventing the ship from leaving until payment has been made.

Arthur Villamor, city administrator, said the owner of MV Unilink 2 agreed to have the damage assessed.

Villamor said Unilink Shipping Corp., owner of the ship, also agreed to help in repairing the boardwalk.

The ship, with 14 crewmen and five officers on board, dropped anchor on Tuesday in Barangay Poblacion, Naga.

But strong winds and waves swept the 222-ton vessel to the shore, slamming it into the boardwalk.

The ship’s safety certificate has been suspended by the Maritime Industry Authority. Carmel Loise Matus, Inquirer Visayas