Ship that ran aground allowed to leave

CEBU, Philippines -  The local government of Cordova town yesterday gave clearance to sail to a vessel that ran aground last Wednesday in the seawaters off Barangay Hilutungan of the said town.

Agapito Bibat, district commander of the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu District said the action was taken after the owner of M/V Princess Anna of Lilygene Sea Transport issued a letter of guarantee to shoulder expenses in case the incident caused damage.

 Bibat said that the Maritime Industry Authority-7 also issued yesterday a certificate of sea worthiness to the said vessel that departed at around 2 p.m.

M/V Princess Anna was taking 38,000 sacks of cement from Naga City to Tacloban City when it ran aground on October 12, at 12:30 a.m.

Bibat said that based on their initial investigation the vessel's Global Positioning System malfunctioned or was damaged, resulting in the accident.

 Bibat said that the area where M/V Princess Anna ran aground is about 200 meters away from the Hilutungan Marine Sanctuary.

 "It will be further assessed if there are no corals that were damaged," said Bibat.  (FREEMAN)