Chinese oil tanker stranded in Bolinao coast
A CHINESE tanker vessel is stranded off the coast of Barangay Patar in Bolinao since December 8.
P/Colonel Redrico Maranan, police provincial Director, confirmed that the vessel stopped at 7:50 pm of December 8 on the coast of Bolinao.
The Bolinao Police Station led by Police Major Dennis Cabigat, police chief, spotted the stranded boat.
According to Cabigat, Chen Xiao Hua, captain of the Chinese tanker vessel labeled Chematic, the foreign vessel contained petroleum products and there were 26 crew members: 23 Chinese nationals and 3 Myanmar citizens.
Police investigation that followed showed the tanker’s engine stopped and found itself stuck on the Bolinao coast. The tanker came from Brunei and was headed to Ningbo, China when it encountered engine trouble while traversing the Bolinao coast.
Chen Xiao said he also called for assistance from the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, the ‘Harbor Star’ from a private towing and salvage team arrived and set an oil spill boom anticipating an oil spill in the area.
An inter-agency task group was already formed involving the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police.
According to Maranan, there are international maritime laws that must be followed before the tanker is inspected. The tanker has not been found to have committed any violation.
Maranan said two tugboats arrived to tow the tanker.
Meanwhile, The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Wednesday that there is still no sign of oil spill from the tanker.
In an interview Wednesday, PCG’s Petty Officer in charge SN1 Jomarie Marquez said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has conducted its inspection on exterior part of the vessel and has seen only minor dents and no signs of spill. (Nora Dominguez/Helen Martin)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
