Cruise ship runs aground off GenSan

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are monitoring a cruise ship that ran aground off General Santos City on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

Reports reaching the PCG headquarters showed that the Panamanian-registered M/V Pacific ran aground off Barangay Bula at around 12:40 p.m. 

PCG Commander Armand Balilo said the ship might pose a risk to residents if it is not removed.

Balilo said the ship’s captain assured the PCG that they would do everything to reduce the damage the incident may cause. 

Personnel from the PCG’s Port State Control on Friday afternoon inspected the vessel and learned that it was due for dismantling in Vahavnagar, India.

The vessel, which came from Mexico, was heading for Singapore when its fuel ran low, forcing the captain to sail toward General Santos City for bunkering last Thursday.

The skipper told the PCG that he has reported the incident to the ship owner, who expressed plans to hire men to help extract the ship from its position.

The PCG said the possibility of an oil leak is minimal as the ship has run out of bunker fuel and its diesel fuel is only 12,000 liters.