Customs wants to keep close watch on Chinese vessel

THE Bureau of Customs in Cebu wants to have the Hong Kong-registered vessel transferred from Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu to the Cebu City port so they could monitor it.

Cebu Customs Collector Edward dela Cuesta said the warrant of seizure and detention they issued to the M/V Ming Yuan for their failure to present a “notice of arrival” would bar them from sailing until they secure Coast Guard clearance.

The M/V Ming Yuan anchored between the islands of the Carnasa and Malapascua Island and was transferred at the Tapilon port in Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu at 4 pm last Saturday.

Commander Weniel Azcuna, operations officer of the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas District said the area where the vessel is anchored on is not a docking area.

He also said the sea between the Carnasa and Malapascua Island where the ship is anchored on is considered a navigation hazard.

“When we ordered the Chinese to transfer the vessel to the port they were cooperative,” Azcuna said.

The vessel came from Taipei, Taiwan and entered Philippine territory last May 19.

The 24 Chinese crew on board told the Coast Guard that they were waiting for the “iron sand” or  “magnetite” cargo at Isabel, Leyte that they would deliver directly to China.

Magnetite is a dense and magnetic mineral that can be found in black sand near the river.

Ecology groups object to quarrying magnetite sand since it depletes and erodes the coastal areas.

In Leyte, there were number of magnetite mining companies that extract magnetites or iron ores. Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag