Coal cargo ship remains moored in Bakud Reef

ALABEL, Sarangani—The cargo ship that rammed into the protected Bakud Reef off Kiamba town on May 15 remained moored as of Friday, the Coast Guard said in a report.

The Malaysian towage firm, contracted to remove the vessel, had decided to unload some 8,000 tons of the coal cargo to easily refloat it, the Coast Guard said.

But the attempt proved to be slow as only about 1,600 tons had so far been transferred to a barge, it said.

The MV Double Prosperity was carrying 66,000 tons of coal from Australia to India when it rammed into the reef.

Gov. Miguel Dominguez said the ship was sailing close to the coast when it hit the coral reef.

Angel Zapatos, provincial legal officer, said late last week, that four experts from the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science conducted an investigation to determine the extent of damage on marine organism.

The UP representatives, Zapatos said, were composed of coral and fish experts.

He said the ship’s owner, Yano Kaiun, also hired the services of a marine expert from Singapore.

He said the assessments were meant to determine the damage to the reef.

He said a special board would conduct a marine inquiry to determine why the international cargo ship deviated from its sea route and rammed into the coral colony.

Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao