Del Pilar retrieval may take up to 2 weeks

MANILA, Philippines — It may take a week or two to retrieve BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which ran aground Wednesday night while on a patrol mission in the vicinity of Hasa-Hasa Shoal in the waters off Palawan.

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad over the weekend said efforts to recover the ship may take a week or two in order to ensure that there will be no further damage to the ship and corals in the area.

A tugboat from a private firm will arrive in Hasa-Hasa Shoal today to help assess the situation and plan the retrieval. 

“We will know the extent of the grounding (on Monday). I cannot estimate the time it will take to recover the ship because we also have to save the corals and ensure also that there will be no spill of fuel oil because it will destroy the environment,” Empedrad explained. “We have to be very careful.”

He promised that the Philippine Navy will do its best to expedite the retrieval of BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a former US coast guard ship acquired by the Philippines in 2011.

Empedrad also confirmed reports that other countries, including China, Korea and the US, offered to help in retrieving the ship. 

He explained the Philippine Navy did not refuse the offers, but decided that waiting for help from other navies would take too much time when retrieval operations must be finished as soon as possible before another typhoon enters the country.

He also said that tugboats owned by local-based private companies can do the job faster.

Empedrad said the ship seems intact and its crew are safe and being supported by other Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard ships that provide security, food, water and other needs.