Coast Guard: Vietnam-flagged cargo vessel damages coral reef in Albay

(Updated June 18, 8:30 a.m.) Some 2,000 square meters of coral reef in waters off the Legazpi City in Albay were damaged after a Vietnam-flagged cargo vessel ran aground in the area last Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday.

The Coast Guard said the MV Ocean 03, weighing 4,532 gross tons and manned by 21 Vietnamese crew, ran aground 900 yards off the entrance of Legazpi City Port. No oil spill was initially reported.

Citing initial information, the Coast Guard said the vessel "hit the marine environment at the area while maneuvering en route to Albay Gulf."



The ship was carrying rice for the National Food Authority in Albay.

After learning of the incident, the Coast Guard Albay station deployed a team that included representatives from the Port State Control Division.

The vessel was pulled out from the area at around 3 p.m. Its skipper, Capt. Tran Dai Nghia, confirmed that no oil spill was seen at the area.

Legazpi City and Coast Guard officials said the ship is not allowed to leave until the damage to the reef is addressed.

Deficiencies

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard said the Port State Control Division issued deficiencies Code 02106 (hull damage impairing seaworthiness) and Code 15101 (Safety and Environment Policy) to MV Ocean 03's crew.

It said the PSC also advised the master of the vessel to coordinate with its agency, Hoang Anh Shipping Joint Stock Company, to provide a surveyor from a classification society to conduct an underwater hull inspection.

Tubbataha incident

On Jan. 17, 2013, the US warship USS Guardian ran aground at the South Atoll of the Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea, damaging at least 2,345.67 square meters of reef area.
 
Salvage crews needed 10 weeks to haul away pieces of the USS Guardian after it was cut up.

The Philippines has received P87.03 million from the United States for the damage caused to Tubbataha Reef by the minesweeper USS Guardian in 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
 
Philippine authorities said the compensation from the US will be used for the protection and rehabilitation of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. — Joel Locsin/BM/ELR/LBG, GMA News