Vessel carrying gravel sinks off Mandaue City

CEBU -  All 14 crewmen of a vessel carrying tons of aggregates are safe after the ship sank shortly before docking in Mandaue City yesterday.

LCT (Landing Craft Tank) Gwen Vida, a cargo vessel owned by Jomalia Shipping Corporations sank in between the waters of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu yesterday as it was about to moor at the Ouano Private Wharf.

The barge came from the port of Hindang, Leyte carrying 300 thousand cubic meters of gravel and aggregates.

The vessel was reported to have sunk at 5:12 a.m. near the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Philippine Coast Guard officials said that vessel was only 200 meters from the shoreline when the mishap happened.

Based on initial reports, it is believed that seawater could have rushed into the vessel when the ramp was opened in preparation for docking.

Ship captain Limbert Cayang and his 13 crew are safe as they were pulled out of the water by a passing tugboat.

The Coast Guard has also taken action to avert an oil spill.

The PCG’s Special Operation Group and Marine Environmental Protection Group were immediately deployed to the area.

They sprayed oil dispersant and deployed oil spill booms around the sunken vessel.

The oil spill booms are devices that help keep oil from spreading to other areas.

Commander Antonio G. Cuasito, Chief of Staff Coast Guard District Central-Eastern Visayas, said that they are still waiting for the marine protest that the ship owner must file after the incident.

The company must also submit an action plan for the refloating or salvaging of the vessel, Cuasito said.— Cressida Paula G. Delmo /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)