LEAKAGE IS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Antique says MV Star Liberty has no leakage after it ran aground at the shoreline of Barangay 4, San Jose d Buenavista on Monday (September 3, 2018) (Photo by Gail Magbanua/Antique PIO)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Antique said the MV Star Liberty has no leakage after it ran aground some 300 meters away from the shoreline of Barangay 4, San Jose de Buenavista on Monday.
PCG Antique Station Commander Perlita P. Cinco, in an interview on Tuesday, said so far they have not seen fuel floating on the seawater where the ship is currently stuck.
“As of now, the leakage is not a major concern because the ship is a double hull and used diesel fuel which could easily evaporate,” she said.
The 383 gross ton ship which arrived at the San Jose de Buenavista Port last August 28 had 6,000 liters of diesel fuel then on its tanker when it left Cebu, Cinco said.
“So far we don’t need to lay out oil spill booms because there is yet no leakage,” she said.
Cinco, in an interview on Monday, said they have coordinated with the Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Coordinating Office for them to lend oil spill booms in case there would be oil leak.
Meanwhile, Cinco said that they are waiting for the representatives of the J. Diamond R. Shipping Inc. that owns the vessel and its insurance company to arrive at the San Jose de Buenavista Port for the initial assessment on the damage of the vessel.
Cinco said that although there is no leakage from the ship’s engine, but the underwater survey might be necessary to determine the damage on the ship.
“The underwater survey is needed to find out the extent of damage on the ship especially now that it has been moved further onto the rocky portion of the sea,” she said.
She said that the vessel has moved due to the continuous strong waves since Monday.
She added the PCG Antique personnel are ready to assist the salvor once the underwater survey is conducted.
Meanwhile, she said the 22 crew members who have been temporarily sheltered at the barangay hall might stay longer until such time that their ship is salvaged from the area.
They are now in safe condition, although some suffered minor bruises, after they were ordered to abandon ship by the captain due to the strong waves.
The ship was supposed to transport 20,000 bags of cement for a consignee in Antique when it was hit by strong waves. (PNA)
