PCG wants oil taken from sunken ship in 10 days

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said an underwater salvage company, tasked to remove 7,000 liters of diesel oil and put the sunken M/V Seaford 2 in an upright position, to do so in seven to 10 days.

PCG commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag said the salvage firm could meet the deadline if they have all the needed equipment and good weather.

“They (ship owners) have already commissioned a salvaging company to remove the threat of marine pollution so they should transfer the remaining diesel oil to a barge and to upright the vessel so that it would not be a threat to navigation of the other vessels, “said Liwag.

He said M/V Seaford 2 is “salvageable” and easier to retrieve.

The cargo vessel, which was reportedly carrying 35,000 bags of cement, sank early Sunday morning off Antique province.

“The cement is wrapped in plastic. It might seep out in small amounts so there would be some effect that is why it is important to remove this threat (to marine pollution),” Liwag said.

Liwag said he also sent a PCG-Maritime Environment Protection Unit to secure the area and control a possible oil leak.

He said they likewise issued Notices to Mariners (Notam) so that vessels plying the area would avoid hitting the sunken vessel.

He said the Board of Marine Inquiry will also investigate why the cargo ship sank.

Earlier reports said M/V Seaford 2 was on its way to Antique from Iligan City when it hit a hard object which punctured its hull at around 3 a.m. on Saturday.

The PCG, meanwhile, ruled out an oil spill in the waters off Catanduanes, after a Panamanian cargo vessel loaded with iron ore capsized Saturday afternoon.

Capt. Felipe Macababad, head of the PCG in Legazpi City, told a radio interview that the cold ocean floor could “freeze” the oil in the vessel.

M/V Sun Spirit was bound to China from Leyte when it encountered rough seas due to the wind convergence.

“The captain was not able to maneuver the ship properly from the five-meter high waves,” said Macababad.

Raffy Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense regional director, said all the crew members rescued by a passing vessel, M/V Oriental Sana 2, are staying at a hotel in Legazpi City while their papers are being processed. – With Ric Sapnu