Panamanian cruise ship stranded at GenSan removed

A Panamanian cruise ship that ran aground at General Santos City last Dec. 12 was finally removed from the area Tuesday afternoon.

 

The Philippine Coast Guard moved the 23,000-ton MV Victory Pacific to deeper waters Tuesday afternoon, MindaNews reported.

 

“It reached the designated anchorage area at 12:50 p.m.,” said Coast Guard commander Lt. Jay Tarriela.

 

He said they used two salvage boats of salvor firm Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc.

 

“When the tide rose, we noticed that the vessel also started to move. So we immediately made a move to extract it,” he said.

 

Earlier, Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao head Commodore George Ursabia said the planned to start the salvage operations on Wednesday afternoon, when the tide was highest.

 

Initial investigation showed the vessel came from Mexico City and was heading for Singapore when it ran out of bunker fuel.

 

The vessel, manned by 21 Indians, was forced to use diesel fuel, and ran aground while trying to reach the Makar port to refuel.

 

MV Victory Pacific had no passengers on board during the incident. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News