Cargo vessel sinks off Cebu wharf

The Philippine Coast Guard has dispatched a Marine Environment Protection Unit and divers to ensure that the 354.9 gross ton cargo vessel that sank some 50 meters off a private wharf in Cebu City would not cause any hazards to the marine life and other passing vessels.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo yesterday said that they immediately took action after learning that the lunging craft tanker (LCT) Gwen Vida, which was carrying gravel, went down near the Quano Private Wharf, Cebu City.

The vessel is said to be owned by Jomalia Shipping, with office address at Albano Street, Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu. It is owned by Mario Lua, while Jaime Suarez is the operations officer.

Initial information reaching the PCG head office showed that the vessel left Leyte at 5:12 a.m. yesterday, while it was on its way to Cebu. Upon nearing its destination it went under the water, between the first and second bridges of Mandaue. There were no reports of bad weather in the area at the time of the incident.

All the ship’s 13 officers and crew were able to swim to safety and a passing tugboat rescued them. Suarez informed the PCG of the incident at 6:10 a.m.

Personnel of the Coast Guard Station Maasin, Special Operations Group (SOG) and the MEPU of Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas were immediately sent to the area to monitor and prevent a possible oil spill.

However, Tamayo added, “We still have to evaluate how much fuel it contained. The MEPU and the divers would determine if the vessel pose hazards to navigation and if we have to post notice to mariners so we could request the ship’s owner to immediately get a salvor and remove the wreck.”

The PCG chief advised the Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas, under Commodore Rolando Dizon, to create a Station Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) to investigate the matter. “The ship’s captain was also advised to file a Marine protest within 24 hours.”