On June 13, a bulk carrier ran aground on Monad Shoal damaging an estimated 483 meters stretch of coral reefs, according to the PCG investigating team.
A Panama-registered vessel, loaded with 48,000 tons of cement bags had an all-Filipino crew of eight officers and 12 ratings. It was on transit from Tsukimi, Japan, and was heading to San Fernando town in southern Cebu where it ran aground in a shark sanctuary and a known diving destination in Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu province, ruining nearly three hectares of coral reefs.
Vince Cinches, oceans campaigner of Greenpeace, said the vessel should not be allowed to leave the country to ensure that its owner rehabilitate the damaged reefs. “We want to make sure the accountability. It takes time to rehabilitate these coral reefs,” he said.
Bibat said the ship would be moved to another port so that sea travel would not be hampered.
Corro said a thorough investigation should be conducted before any legal actions could be taken against the shipping company.
Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro signed an executive order on June 2, 2015, creating the shark and ray sanctuary on Monad Shoal and Gato Island near Malapascua. The measure was intended to strengthen the protection of the species crucial to the town’s tourism.
Later the same day a PCG Auxiliary member and a local diver conducted underwater hull inspection and reported that the vessel’s hull is stuck on the seabed and there were no signs of oil spill from the grounded ship.
The vessel’s cement cargoes were transferred to stricken vessel’s sister ship and were subsequently unloaded at San Fernando, Naga, Cebu and the vessel is waiting for the salvage operation to begin.
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Sources & References: Philippine Coast Guard, Inquirer News
