MANILA, Philippines - After almost a month of salvaging operations, the barge with 8,102 metric tons of coal, that ran aground in Batangas at the height of typhoon Basyang, has been refloated and towed to safety, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said yesterday.
PCG-Batangas station commander Lieutenant Commander Troy Cornelio said that they have so far completed the first and second phases of their salvaging operations.
They are now planning on how they would execute the third and final stage, which is to remove the 3,200 metric tons of coal from the bottom of the sea.
While the 60 percent of the 8,102 percent of the coal, that remained on the damaged barge during the storm, have reportedly been brought to a cement factory in Batangas.
Cornelio reported to PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo that they successfully pulled out the grounded barge Gold Trans 306 from Nasugbu, Batangas on Aug. 10. It has been towed by motor tug Trans Power 207 to the Papaya Cove Anchorage also located in Nasugbu.
At the anchorage, the vessel would be inspected by personnel of the PCG, belonging to the Marine Environmental Protection Command (Mepcom) and the Special Operations Group (SOG).
The SOG divers have already conducted initial dives to conduct underwater inspection on the hull of the Gold Trans 306 barge.
In a statement, the PCG said that during the underwater inspection, they discovered that the port side or left side of the bottom hull of the barge allegedly suffered several cracks and holes of different sizes. No damages were seen on the starboard or right side of the ship.
Additionally, the PCG yesterday said that the number of fatalities from the cargo ship M/V SF Freighter that sank off Romblon last Saturday has gone up to six.
PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Arman Balilo identified the casualties as the chief engineer Meno Wenceslao, Chiefmate Clayton Jay Benigla, Chiefmate Crispin Jalea, able seamen Richard Tingcang and Paul Dominque Boyles and chief cook Romulo Alvares.
There have been three survivors namely the ship’s captain Julito Cortejos, assistant engineer Joseph Jabonite Jr. and the crane operator Jerry Cortes.
Eight of the crewmen remain missing.
PCG said that they would continue with their search and rescue operation and that it even dispatched its Islander plane to continue with its air surveillance operation.
Initial information reaching the PCG headquarters showed that at around 8:30 p.m. of Aug. 5, the vessel, owned by Seaford Shipping Co., left Manila. It was on its way to Cebu. There were 17 officers and crew on board.
On Aug. 7 the 498-gross ton M/V SF Freighter, which was carrying steel bars, reportedly encountered rough waters some 11 nautical miles from Semira Island in Romblon.
The skipper decided to alter its course to take shelter in Marinduque when its engine conked out at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 7, in the vicinity of Dos Hermanas Island. Their situation became more precarious since the strong winds and big waves push the vessel, which float dead on water, started tilting sideways and in the verge of sinking.
It was at this juncture, about 2:20 a.m. when the skipper declared an abandon ship and called Seaford Shipping manager Heden Chua to inform him of their predicament.
The 17 officers and crew divided themselves into two groups, boarded the two lifeboats and donned their life jackets just before the cargo ship sank.