CG to siphon oil from tugboat

CEBU, Philippines - The Coast Guard in Cebu will siphon oil from the tugboat that ran aground in the waters off Sitio Bantigue, Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan last Sunday.

The Coast Guard received information that oil is starting to leak from M/T Joma.

Marine Environmental Protection Unit and Special Operations Group personnel were already mobilized to support the operation.

The CG detachment in Hagnaya port has been designated to prioritize the siphoning of fuel.

Coast Guard Cebu Commander Weniel Azcuna said that at around 8:35 a.m. Thursday, barge JB-1 departed from Apo Cement port in Barangay Tinaan in Naga loaded with 22,000 bags of cement bound for Bulan, Sorsogon.

The tug boat carries around 1,500 liter of diesel.

At around 4 a.m. Sunday, while the tug boat and barge were in the seawaters off Malapascua Island, the towing hawser was accidentally cut off that caused the line to get entangled with the propeller of M/T Joma.

This resulted the tugboat to gradually drift and eventually ran aground.

At around 9:30 a.m. of the same day, the vessel was battered by strong winds that caused it to be half submerged at the shoreline of the said barangay.

Azcuna said that the owner of both vessels went to his office and reported that the cargos that were not wet were given to some of the residents.

All the 14 crewmembers of the tugboat and the barge are safe.

The Coast Guard has advised the master and ship owner to file a marine protest in relation to the incident.  (FREEMAN)