Capitol wants deeper probe on vessel mishap

Baltazar Tribunalo, Capitol disaster management chief, shows a photo of the cargo ship MV Belle Rose that ran aground on Monad Shoal while giving updates to media. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

The Panama-registered cargo vessel MV Belle Rose veered off course to avoid hitting fisherfolk, causing them to run aground at the shallow portion of Monad Shoal in Daanbantayan town last Monday dawn.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), disclosed this to media after an aerial inspection of the site yesterday afternoon.

“They allegedly veered away from their path since there were local fishing boats. It was the Philippine Coast Guard that gave us the briefing. We have to get inside the ship (and see it for ourselves),” Tribunalo said.

Tribunalo said marine biologists from the University of San Carlos and Coast Guard divers and non-government organizations will assess the extent of damage caused by the vessel on the corals and other marine life in the Monad Shoal.

Monad Shoal is used by tourists to spot thresher sharks.

If the damage is extensive, Tribunalo said the provincial government and the Daanbantayan municipal government should file a protest against the operator.

The cargo ship was traveling from Japan to the southern Cebu town of San Fernando to deliver bags of cement to Taiheiyo Cement which operates there.

Its shipping company is identified as Sun Ship Management Corp. Ltd from Japan while its port of registry is in Panama.

The managing company in the Philippines is identified as Alpha Shipping Management Corp. based in Manila.

“An official of Mabuhay Cement which is located near Taiheiyo Cement called me and said they’ve talked with Taiheiyo Cement officials. They said the owners of the vessel will be told of the damage after the assessment. And they will take care of it,” Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III told reporters.

Tribunalo said they will review the province’s environmental laws to determine what sanctions can be imposed on the vessel owners.

Though there are three leaks and holes on the ship, Tribunalo said there is still no sign of an oil spill in the area since the ship has its fuel tanks on a higher level.

“Before the vessel can be salvaged, there has to be a risk assessment. Maybe when you pull out the vessel, it can cause more damage to the corals,” Tribunalo said.

Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station commander Agapito Bibat said the vessel cannot leave until they secure a salvage permit from them.

Bibat said the firm needs a survey and salvage plan before they can secure a permit.

“The plan identifies how they will remove the vessel in the area. We need to make sure that there will be no additional damages,” Bibat said.