Lapu-Lapu tells company to get ship out of the way

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government has urged a shipping company to retrieve its ship off the shores of barangay Canjulao which sank last July 1.

The vessel, which belongs to B & E Sea Transport Corp., ran aground and tilted before it sank past 9 p.m. of July 1.

It came from Iligan City and was on its way to Pier 4 in Cebu City.

Some of the crew members were rescued while others swam safely to shore.

Andy Berame, chair of Lapu-Lapu’s Coastal Law Enforcement Committee, said the submerged vessel poses risks to other ships.

Oil had been siphoned from the vessel and the 23,000 sacks of cement had been retrieved.

The shipping company has hired Omega Steel and Marine Services to salvage the vessel.

But bad weather has hampered retrieval operations.

The sunken vessel, whose mast can be seen above the water, had tilted to its side, making its retrieval more difficult. Part of it has sunk deeper into the mud.

“Ang position sa barko nagtakilid na, ang bow maoy nakita unta pero karon mast na lang maoy makita,” Berame said.

Mayor Paz Radaza said she has instructed Berame to closely monitor the site where the vessel sank.

Earlier, Radaza threatened to file a complaint against the vessel’s owner. (FREEMAN)