Search for bodies gives way to oil siphoning

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy will need to consult first with their divers if the presence of the salvage tug commissioned by the 2GO group to siphon the remaining oil from the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas will affect their search, rescue and retrieval operations.

However, PCG Central Visayas Commander, Commodore William Melad, confirmed that they had to postpone diving operations yesterday since the salvage tug with the siphoning equipment from Japan arrived yesterday morning to position their vessel first in preparation for siphoning operations.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Melad stressed that there is no formal order yet to officially end the search, rescue and retrieval operations of the divers inside the ill-fated MV Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The PGC, PN and the technical and volunteer divers earlier said that the diving operations will push through until they deem it impossible to already do so.

As the divers searched all over the sunken passenger vessel for more bodies, they have also marked parts of the boat which they believe are impassable due to debris and collapsed walls. However, they assured that they will do their best to search the entire vessel to search for the remaining 22 missing passengers and crew.

The number of the fatalities in the collision between MV Saint Thomas Aquinas and the cargo vessel MV Sulpicio Express Siete now stands at 111.

The siphoning of the remaining oil from the passenger vessel is targeted to be finished in 12 days, said PCG Cebu Commander Weniel Azcuna.

Yesterday they started positioning the vessel and will make all the necessary preparations for the siphoning operations which are set to start on Monday, said Azcuna.

Melad said that they would have to consult with the divers if they can still dive even with the presence of the siphoning equipment.

All in all, Melad said that the decision to temporarily or permanently call off the search, rescue and retrieval operations will depend on the divers and their assessment of the situation under the sea.

Online petition

Meanwhile, an online petition has been circulating, calling for the cancellation of the franchise of the Philippines Span Asia Carrier Corp., (formerly Sulpicio Lines), which owns Sulpicio Express Siete.

The online petition has collected more than 2,000 signatures.

The petition against Sulpicio Lines is addressed to Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia, administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority.

"We are sick and tired of seeing body bags," read the petition, which described the ships of Sulpicio Lines as "floating coffins" involved in five major sea tragedies where more than 5,000 people have died.

It mentioned the 1987 collision of Sulpicio ferry MV Doña Paz with an oil tanker which left more than 4,300 people dead, the 1988 sinking of the MV Dona Marilyn off Leyte island which killed more than 250 people and the MV Princess of the Orient disaster which caused the deaths of 150 people.

In 2008, the MV Princess of the Stars, also owned by Sulpicio Lines, sank during a storm, killing 800 passengers.

The website showed that the petition was created by a certain Pantaleon Del Rosario.

Salvage tug

The salvage tug "Trabajador" with the equipment to be used in siphoning the remaining oil from the sunken passenger vessel arrived earlier than expected in Cebu.

Azcuna said they are currently assisting Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. in preparing for the start of the siphoning.

Inspection and preparation for oil removal, based on the project plan laid out by 2GO and Malayan, will run for two days starting yesterday. The plotted schedule further stated that siphoning is set to start on Monday.

A press conference will be held on Tuesday at the Provincial Capitol incident command center at 8:30 a.m. After being temporarily suspended over the weekend, regular command conferences at the Cebu City hall will resume on Monday at 2 p.m.

A visit to the siphoning operations for members of the media and key government officials is also being arranged by the 2GO management.  (FREEMAN)