'Salvage operations for Princess of the Stars finished before Christmas'

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo disclosed yesterday that the salvage operations for the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars off Sibuyan Island in Romblon could be completed before Christmas.

Tamayo said considering the extensive work in store, the removal of the toxic cargo and retrieval of the remains of victims trapped inside the wreckage would take the salvage team until December to finish.

He said all the work could be completed before Christmas.

The ship’s owner Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) had hired Titan Salvaging Corp. and its local counterpart Harbor Star to start within two to three days the removal of the toxic pesticide endosulfan cargo of Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI).

The salvors would also recover the chemicals of Bayer Crop Science and 250,000 liters of crude oil from the capsized ship.

The Cebu-bound Princess of the Stars left the Port of Manila but capsized off Romblon on June 21 at the height of typhoon “Frank.”

Out of the more than 800 passengers and crew on board, only about 32 persons survived, more than 200 bodies were recovered and about 500 victims are still missing and believed trapped inside the ship’s wreckage.

Tamayo said divers have traced the route to the endosulfan container and the team is conducting a risk assessment on how to pump the toxic chemicals to drums and seal them. They intend to load the hazardous cargo on board the barges today.

“If the weather is good, then the hazardous material operations will be completed in one week,” Tamayo added.

SLI, owner of the capsized 23,000-gross ton ship, said the salvaging firms would also construct a pier near the campsite to make the site more accessible. “This would reduce the travel time to the wreck site by over 60 percent, or just 20 to 25 minutes.”

Steel pipes have already been ordered for construction of a more stable pier near the campsite and faster deployment of crew.

They would also continue testing the water condition within and around the vicinity of the ship. So far, there have been no signs that the water has been contaminated by endosulfan. They would also drain its fuel in a practical and safe manner, create a bigger opening to remove the cargo and take more video surveys of the wreck site.

SLI said that they would only be able to accomplish these targets if the weather permits. Their retrieval operations during the past days have been hampered by bad weather. It would also depend on the infrastructure in the island.