Vietnamese vessel runs aground near Legazpi City port

A Vietnamese cargo vessel ran aground near the entrance of Legazpi City Port last Monday, causing damage to the coral reefs, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday.

“MV Ocean 03, with 4,532 gross tonnages and manned by 21 Vietnamese crew, reportedly ran aground and hit the marine environment at the area while maneuvering enroute to Albay Gulf,” the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said in a statement.

The vessel ran aground some 900 yards off the entrance at about 7:40 a.m. It was supposed to unload cargo, Balilo said.

The ship was later pulled out from the site at about 3 p.m.

The Vietnamese vessel’s captain, Tran Dai Nghia, said no oil spill was seen in the area.

“The incident was reported by Renan Del Mundo of Bantay Dagat-Legazpi to the personnel of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Albay which immediately deployed its men along with representatives from the Port State Control Division,” Balilo said.

The Port State Control Division PSC advised the master of the vessel to coordinate with its agency, Hoang Anh Shipping Joint Stock Company, to provide a surveyor from a classification society who will conduct an underwater hull inspection to determine the seaworthiness of the said vessel. TVJ