Abandoned foreign cargo ship runs aground off Malolos

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, Philippines – A Cambodia-registered cargo ship ran aground off the coast of this city as Typhoon Labuyo exited the country on Monday.

Officials said MV Yuen Heng was found abandoned after authorities boarded it yesterday.

“We still do not know why it was abandoned and our local police are conducting a search on board,” Mayor Christian Natividad said.

Natividad said local fishermen saw the ship late Monday with its lights still on.

“We tried to get closer to the ship but we failed because of big waves,” he said.

Officials said the ship was stuck on a sandbar some two kilometers off Barangay Pamarawan here.

Natividad said the ship rammed several fishpens and oyster pens. “We are now trying to get in touch with the ship owner not only to file charges but for the proper disposition of the vessel to prevent further damage,” he said.

“Local fishermen expressed concern on the possibilities of the ship to capsize because of big waves brought by the southwest monsoon winds,” he added.

Malolos police chief Superintendent David Poklay said documents recovered from the ship identified its owner as S. America Far Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd. and operator as Shandong Jianghai Industrial Group Co. Ltd. based in Rongcheng, Shandong, China.

Poklay said the ship is registered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Officials said the 17,150-ton Yuen Heng carried a Panamanian flag but a Chinese flag was also found in the ship by the military.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said they learned Tuesday that the ship had drifted off Bulacan with no crewmen on board.

“No crewmen were on board. It seemed to be abandoned. Only jackets and life vests were found inside the vessel. There were also no documents to identify its owner,” he said.

Balilo said they are verifying the ownership of the vessel, taking notice of some reports that a Filipino-Chinese owned the ship.

The PCG-National Capital Region immediately dispatched a team to inspect the grounded ship.

“They would look for documents. They would also check if there is an oil spill but so far there are no indications of an oil spill,” Balilo said.

According to Balilo, there are some people claiming to be owners of the vessel, but the PCG required them to show proof of their claim.

He added the Army and the Philippine National Police have been securing the vessel with the PCG sending a support team.

“Our concern here is to pinpoint the owner and remove the vessel,” he added.

Bulacan police director Senior Superintendent Joel Ordona reported that the ship was docked at the Lucanin anchorage area in Mariveles, Bataan for almost four years and was abandoned after the owner failed to pay the necessary dues. – With Evelyn Macairan, Ric Sapnu