Sunken ship’s salvage operations start Sept. 11

MANILA, Philippines - Salvage operations on a sunken ferry in the Visayas is expected to start next week. This was announced Wednesday by Transportation Undersecretary Ma. Elena H. Bautista, chief of Task Force M/V Princess of the Stars, made this announcement Wednesday as she took over the leadership of the Maritime Industry Authority following the resignation of Vicente T. Suazo, Jr. She said preparations are being finalized by foreign firm Titan Salvage and its local partner Harbour Star hired by shipowner Sulpicio Lines, Inc. for the operations on Sept. 11. The remaining equipment for the activity arrived only on Monday night in Manila, Ms. Bautista said. Efforts to retrieve several tons of toxic chemicals and fuel should have started on Aug. 29, but the salvor requested the task force for an extension due to bad weather and rough seas. The 23,800-ton Princess of the Stars was in the Visayas region from Manila en route to Cebu on June 21 when it capsized off Romblon province after directly hitting the eye of typhoon Frank (international code name: Fensheng). The tragedy resulted in the death of more than 600 people out of more than 850 passengers and crew on board. The ship sank with 10,000 kilograms (kg) of toxic pesticide endosulfan, 392 kg of Antracol WP70, 501 kg of Fuerza GR3, 17.5 kg of Trap 70WP and 150 liters of Tamaron 600SL and 250,000 liters of special fuel oil. — Bernard U. Allauigan, BusinessWorld