Ship pulled out of Monad Shoal

CEBU, Philippines - The foreign vessel that ran aground at a shoal off Malapascua Island was finally pulled out after being stuck for about a week.

 It was the second attempt to pull the vessel out since Sunday, said Cebu Province's Disaster Management Office chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr.

The salvage operation was led by a private firm contracted by the ship's owner, Sunship Management, and was supervised by both the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, along with local marine biologists.

 Two tugboats pulled MV Belle Rose out of Monad Shoal at 10:12 a.m. yesterday, about seven days after it bulldozed some 300 meters of corals and damaging an estimated 2.4 hectares of protected seascape, which are home to the rare Thresher Sharks species.

After it was pulled out of the shoal, MV Belle Rose will be allowed to deliver its cargo to Naga City in southern Cebu. Contracted by Taehiyo Corporation, the vessel was carrying 49,000 metric tons of raw materials to be used in making cement.

 Tribunalo said the ship is still "under detention" technically since a more accurate assessment and evaluation of the damages will have to be conducted.

PCG Station Commander Agapito Bibat said only when the ship has been removed from the shoal can an accurate evaluation be made.

Because the tide was low last Sunday, the tugboats pulled the MV Belle Rose by only 85 meters backwards on the first attempt.

 DENR Central Visayas Director Isabelo Montejo said a composite team to be led by Capitol will be created to evaluate the damages for which the ship owner will pay. The composite team will also include the PCG, marine biologists, and other experts.

 Montejo said internationally accepted standards will be observed in determining the cost of each coral and other species affected by the incident.

"The value of the corals (for example) will take into consideration the number of years it will (grow back or rebuild)," Montejo said.

 He said the Tubbataha incident with the US Navy will also be used as basis in determining the extent and cost of damage.

Meanwhile, Bibat recommended that navigational signs be put up at the area to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

The captain of MV Belle Rose was reportedly trying to avoid fishermen at that time only to have the vessel "bulldozing" the centuries-old coral reef.

The provincial government, for its part, will no longer file a case against the shipping firm, Tribunalo said.

"Basi sa agreement nato pagpermiro, kanang kiha, samok, dugay," Tribunalo said, adding, "We were assured nga naa. Dili man pud sa ingon nga magbayad sila and magpabayad mi nga walay basehan."

"Ato lang gyod tanawon ang pinaka nindot, pabor ni shoal or ni reef, pabor ni barangay, pabor ni lungsod, pabor ni probinsya, pabor sa tag-iya nga at the end of the day, lipay tang tanan," he added.

The bulk carrier will be returned to its docking point in San Fernando, Naga, Cebu.  (FREEMAN)