PCG: 2 China ships in Manila; vessels cleared by Bureau of Quarantine

Two ships from China have arrived and are presently docked at Pier 15, South Harbor in Manila, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday.

The PCG said the first ship, “World Dream Cruise Ship,” arrived this morning from Hong Kong.

The PCG said the cruise ship has a total of 778 passengers and will leave for Subic at 9 p.m.

It added that the other ship, “MV Ligulao,” a cargo vessel, came from Lianyungang in Jiangsu, China. The PCG said the ship had arrived on Monday, January 27.

According to the PCG, the MV Ligulao, which has 20 crew members, will return to China on Tuesday night.

Amid the novel coronavirus threat that was first detected in Wuhan, China, the PCG said both vessels have been cleared and declared safe by the Bureau of Quarantine after conducting mandatory inspections.

For his part, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said immigration officers who inspect vessels observe safety measures to minimize the risk of exposure to health hazards.

He said immigration personnel, who board vessels at foreign ports and conduct inspections at sea en route to the Philippines, have been advised to wear masks and other protective clothing or gear and to follow protocol on procedures like face-to-face checks. — with Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ/KBK, GMA News