Chinese cargo ship given until Thursday to explain side

MANILA, Philippines - The captain and crewmen of the Chinese cargo vessel held for dropping anchor near a marine sanctuary in Cebu for more than a month without notifying authorities have until Thursday to explain why the ship should not be seized by the Philippine government, a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official said yesterday.

“I gave them yesterday (Monday) 72 hours to submit their position to show cause why I shouldn’t forfeit their vessel,” BOC Cebu district collector Edward de la Cuesta told The STAR yesterday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found the 19,998 gross ton Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier M/V Ming Yuan between the islands of Malapascua and Carnasa in Cebu last Friday, more than a month after it dropped anchor without informing Philippine authorities.

“It has committed many violations, especially its failure to inform the proper authorities like the Bureau of Customs and (Bureau of) Immigration on their arrival,” De la Cuesta said.

He said the PCG, the Philippine Ports Authority and the Maritime Industry Authority should have also been informed of the ship’s arrival.

De la Cuesta said that while the cargo hold of the ship was empty, “we are more interested on the cargo that they were supposed to load or unload as the case may be.”

He said the ship’s captain should have submitted a cargo manifest and just indicated “nil.”

He noted that the ship was not able to present an inward cargo manifest and a general declaration.

He earlier said the ship may be auctioned off in favor of the government.