Panama vessel from China under probe for alleged violation of COVID-19 safety measures — Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is conducting an investigation on a vessel which came from China after its captain allegedly declared false information regarding its port clearance details and shut down its identification system despite the strict measures against coronavirus disease 2019.

According to the PCG on Friday, Panama-flagged cargo vessel "MV Harmony 6" arrived in Changzhou, China last February 13 and left on February 18.

It said the vessel was scheduled to have a port call at the Port of Poro Point in La Union, where it arrived on February 23.

The PCG said the vessel supposedly turned off its automatic identification system from February 19 until it arrived in the country.

Based on initial probe, the vessel's captain, Luu Van Loi, claimed that it left China on February 10 in order to fit into the 14-day quarantine period being strictly implemented in all major ports in the country as part of the prevention measure against COVID-19.

Personnel from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) may conduct health inspection among vessel's crew only after the required 14-day period. A total of 18 Vietnamese and five Indian crew were onboard the ship.

Due to the alleged misrepresentation of the Vietnamese captain, personnel from the BOQ immediately boarded the vessel to conduct the health inspection.

The PCG said the vessel has been placed under temporary detention pending investigation. — RSJ, GMA News