Cargo ship that ran aground off Cebu refloated

MANILA, Philippines - A cargo vessel that ran aground off Malapascua Island in Cebu has been refloated. 

The 29,104-ton M/V Belle Rose, which damaged 483 meters of coral reef, was refloated at around 10:12 a.m., said Cmdr. Agapito Bibat, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Cebu. 

Bibat said Malayan Towage and Salvaging Corp. (MTSC) had pumped water from the ship since Sunday.

MTSC’s tugboats escorted the ship to the nearest anchorage in San Fernando, Cebu. The ship was expected to arrive in San Fernando by midnight yesterday. 

“We really had to act fast and remove the ship. We did not want to leave it there especially with the habagat (southwest monsoon) coming. Strong winds and high waves might drag the vessel and cause further damage to the coral reef,” said Bibat. 

The ship’s 20 crewmembers will be detained at the Port State Control of the PCG for investigation while a surveyor determines the seaworthiness of the ship.

“M/V Belle Rose will not be allowed to sail without the approval of the classification society,” Bibat said.

The ship, which came from Tsukumi, Japan, was carrying 48,000 tons of cement on its way to San Fernando, Cebu.           

The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is eyeing a marine protest against the owner of the ship.