Tuesday, November 27, 2007
French ship to visit Cebu tomorrow
A FRENCH warship carrying two Exocet MM38 missiles will arrive at the Cebu International Port tomorrow for a goodwill visit until Saturday.
Cebu Port Authority (CPA) General Manager Angelo Verdan said that mv Vendemiaire F734, which will arrive from China, has standard armaments on board, without nuclear warheads.
No nukes
Verdan said the passage of vessels with nuclear weapons is against the law.
Nuclear weapons is also banned under the Visiting Forces Agreement signed between the Philippines and the United States.
Verdan said that the shipping agent, Supply Oilfield Services Inc., is only coordinating with CPA on berthing area. The organized tours for the crew are arranged by other agencies.
Vendemiaire F734 has 11 high-ranking officers, 36 non-commissioned officers, 42 men and 11 pilots for helicopter gunships and warplanes.
Boats, landing area
Emmanuel Labella, chief of the Bureau of Quarantine 7, said the vessel, which has boats and a landing area for aircraft, will be also inspected by boarding officers from customs, immigration, veterinary, plant and fisheries.
Donji Flores, logistics manager of Supply Oilfield, said in the notice of arrival he submitted to the Bureau of Quarantine that the vessel is here on a goodwill visit.
The vessel was commissioned by France on Oct. 21, 1993 in service of the French military in the Middle East and Asia. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 27, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
