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Friday, September 12, 2008
Barge capsizes at Mactan Channel
CEBU CITY -- A cargo ship loaded with sand and gravel from Leyte, as well as diesel and engine oil, sank near the shores of Mandaue City early Thursday morning.
All 13 crewmembers are safe.
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Why the ship sank remains unknown. The Coast Guard (CG) ordered the ship's owner, Jomalia Shipping Corp., to submit an action plan to re-float the ship and pass a marine protest in 24 hours.
As of early Thursday afternoon, a team of CG divers was still checking the ship's hull for any oil slick, said Commander Antonio G. Cuasito, CG District Central-Eastern Visayas chief of staff.
Cuasito said the accident happened at 5:12 a.m. Thursday. The LCT Gwen Vida from Hindang, Leyte, which weighed 354.9 gross tons, sank between the old Mactan Mandaue Bridge and F.F. Cruz in the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
The spot is 200 meters away from shore and 500 meters away from the bridge.
Cuasito said a passing tugboat rescued ship captain Limbert Cayang and his crew of 12 before the vessel sank.
Two CG teams were sent to the area, divers from the Special Operations Group and Marine Environment Group.
Chief engineer Rodolfo Yniesta told Cuasito that the ship was carrying 1,200 liters of diesel fuel in its tank and 50 liters of engine oil inside sealed drums when it sank.
Hours after the disaster, the shipping firm's operations manager, Jaime Suarez, coordinated with the Coast Guard on what to do with the ship.
Right now, the sunken vessel poses a navigational hazard to passing ships. A foot-long section of the ship's hull protrudes from the water. (OCP/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (September 12, 2008 issue)
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