Owner given until Friday to start removing capsized ship

Authorities want the owner of M/V Maria Angelica Grace that flipped over in the Cabahug wharf in Mandaue City Sunday night to salvage the ill-fated ship to prevent damage to the environment.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday gave its owner Salvador Rapal of Rapal Shipping Lines until Friday to hire a salvor to remove the capsized ship. “If he can’t make it we (PCG) will be the one to select a salvor company for the salvage operation,” said Commander Wendiel Azcuna, chief of the PCG Cebu Station.

“We are pressuring him (Rapal) to do his job of removing the vessel,” added Azcuna.

Personnel from the PCG yesterday manually scooped out oil that started leaking from the ship.

The leak however has been contained by the oil spill boom deployed by the PCG.

but Azcuna said they are not letting their guards down because the volume of diesel and oil lubricants from the ship is substantial and could damage the environment if not properly managed.

The ill-fated ship has 8,000 liters of industrial diesel in its tank.

Already around 200 fisherfolk in Mandaue City has already felt the impact of the sea mishap after the local government unitprohibited them from fishing in the municipal waters.

Across the Mactan Chanel, Lapu-Lapu City mayor Paz Radaza is likewise demanding from the owner of the vessel to immediately siphon the oil to prevent any more oil spills.

On the other hand, Mandaue City councilor Jimmy Lumapas, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture said that they still ask the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct a study to determine the impact of the oil spill.

“Mao lang ni among advise sa mga fishermen unya nalang unta sila mangisda ba kung nana outcome sa study,” he said while saying that a resolution was passed yesterday in City Council weekly session regarding the matter and was approved.

(That is why, we have advised the fishermen not to go fishing in the meantime.)

Lumapas said that they will also be studying if the owner of the cargo-vessel has a liability. After their study if they will see liability, owner of the cargo-vessel must pay damages.

Cabahug wharf said Lumapas, is about 1 kilometer away from the breeding area of fishes in the boundary of Consolacion town and Mandaue where the salt and fresh water meet.

Mayor Radaza said their coastal monitoring team is checking if the oil from the ill-fated ship has crossed to their coastal barangays, namely Canjulao, Poblacion, Pajo and Pusok.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7, also inspected the Cabahug wharf in Mandaue City to ensure that the oil slicks won’t spreads at the sea.

Marine biologist Johann Tejada said they noticed minor oil slicks at the propeller area, but these were still within the enclosed area.

Tejada said BFAR will also coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) so steps will be taken to protect the marine resources in the area.

Renie Alejandro, 38, a fisherman, was worried about the effect of the oil leaks which was visible near the sunken ship, “manglayas man gud ang mga isda basta naay daghang oil o mga chemicals sa dagat mao nga maapektohan sab mi,” he said.

(The fish will go away if there the presence of oil or other chemicals in the sea, that is why we also get affected).

Wilson Dieta, captain of the ill-fated ship said the ship lost its balance while loading trucks in its cargo hold. Waves generated by passing fast crafts pummeled the ship until it capsized.

Azcuna however said the incident may be cause by bad loading procedures.

Radaza for her part is asking the PCG to review speed limits of sea vessels passing the Mactan Channel.