Coal to be removed from troubled barge

MANILA, Philippines – A salvaging firm would start removing the 4,902 metric tons of coal on board a barge that ran aground in Nasugbu, Batangas as well as the 3,200 metric tons of coal that fell into the water 13 days ago, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

Lt. Commander Troy Cornelio, PCG Batangas station commander, said the owner of the troubled barge hired the services of the local salvaging firm Omega Steel Marine to extract the coal.

“For this operation, there would be three phases. First, we have to remove the coal from the barge using a crane. We believe that about 60 percent of the 8,102 metric tons of coal remain on the barge, while the other 40 percent fell into the water at the height of storm Basyang,” said Cornelio.

Next, the salvaging firm would conduct underwater repairs on the barge and pull it out from the spot where it ran aground.

Finally, the firm has to extract the estimated 3,200 metric tons of coal that fell into the seabed of Nasugbu and covered corals and other marine life there.

As of yesterday, Cornelio was still waiting for the salvaging firm to submit a timetable on the removal of both the coal and the barge.

The PCG will retain two Special Operations Group teams composed of eight divers and six personnel from the Marine Environment Protection Command to secure the area, Cornelio said.