Oil spill from capsized vessel minimal - Coast Guard

CEBU, Philippines - The Coast Guard in Cebu is giving the owner of the vessel that capsized at a private port in Mandaue City until Friday to get a salvor for the vessel’s salvage operation.

Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Weniel Azcuna said they will be the one to appoint an accredited salvor if Rapal Inter-Island Shipping, owner of M/V Maria Angelica Grace, will not get one of their choice by Friday.

“We will be sending him a letter again informing him he has only until Friday

or else, we will be forced to get a salvor,”  he said in a phone interview.

But Azcuna said Salvador Rapal, proprietor of the shipping company, informed him yesterday morning that they are negotiating with three companies in Cebu for the salvage operation.

Coast Guard personnel continue to monitor the site for oil spill.

Azcuna assured that the oil spill is minimal as they have enclosed the area with spill boom and continuous cleanup is being done.

The vessel contains more than 8,000 liters of crude oil.

 The cargo vessel was about to depart for Masbate when it tilted before it capsized at around 9:46 p.m. at the Cabahug wharf in Looc, Mandaue City.

It was loaded with hundreds of sacks of rice and sugar as well as truck of construction materials and furniture.

Uneven arrangements of trucks were believed to have caused it to tilt and capsize face down.

The driver of the truck tried to recover the balance but failed due to waves caused by passing fast crafts.

All 19 crew members, including the boat captain, Wilson Dieta, 36, of Ilo-Ilo City, were safe.

The boat was bought in South Korea in 1996. — (FREEMAN)