Monday, November 12, 2007 Vessel hurdles safety checks
THE vessel that will explore and drill for oil and gas in Tañon Strait starting Thursday has arrived and is in position at its site facing Pinamungajan, Cebu.
A customs, immigration and quarantine team has already inspected and cleared the mv Hakuryu.
Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Director Antonio Labios appealed to critics not to block the exploration, amid reports that a fishers’ group will go to court to stop it.
If it finds commercially viable amounts of oil or gas, the Japan Petroleum Exploration Company (Japex) is eligible for a 25-year production contract with the government and stands to gain up to 40 percent of the yield.
In inspecting the vessel, Cebu Bureau of Quarantine Chief Emmanuel Labella, Bureau of Customs Examiner Dennis Adizas and Bureau of Immigration Officer Rey Cuizon boarded a helicopter.
Air Transportation Office (ATO) Specialist Melvin Dagon, DOE Visayas Field Office Energy Resource Development Officer Edgar Amante, and Carmelita Ouano, Luz Tabasa and engineer Flor Bulang of the quarantine bureau joined the three.
Japex and its partner will use the helicopter as its regular service vehicle until the project is completed.
Ship captain Kazunori Kato is at the helm of the Hakuryu, which has 72 crewmembers and is equipped with offshore drilling equipment. (EOB)
