A team composed of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will lead the salvage operations of the Chinese vessel that ran aground on the Tubbataha reef, Coast Guard chief Rodolfo Isorena said Wednesday, April 10.
PCG and DOTC will try to refloat the boat since the vessel is still intact and its hull and propeller were not damaged in the incident.
Isorena said the team plans to "lighten" the boat so it can be brought to Puerto Princesa, where the 12 fishermen on board are facing charges for poaching, illegal entry and attempted bribery.
"If that is not possible then we will try other options. If our men can't make it operate, then we will tow her to Puerto Princesa. But there is no damage to the engine. Maybe it will run," he said in a press conference.
The team is working on siphoning off 80,000 liters of fuel oil from the vessel. They are also looking at removing other equipment on board to make the boat lighter.
Isorena said the damage caused by the 48-meter Chinese vessel is not expected to be as large as that damage caused by the USS Guardian, which had to be cut into pieces to be removed.
The cost of the salvage operations have not been determined.
In cases when a fishing vessel gets stuck in a Philippine territory, Isorena said the owner of the boat usually pays for the cost of the salvage operations. However, authorities have not yet determined who in fact owns the vessel.
"The owner of the vessel is the one supposed to be paying for all the expenses that will be incurred. If there is no owner, then the Coast Guard will lead the salvage ops. Sometimes, we hire a team who will conduct the salvage ops then whatever can still be salvaged will serve as the payment, if there is no claimant to the boat," Isorena said in a mix of English and Filipino.
"This one, it's a different case. First of all, we don't know who owns the boat. [But we have inquired] if it would be possible to locate the owner," he added.
No threat to security
Authorities are investigating why the fishing vessel entered the protected area and why it ran aground on the reef.
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard also dispatched an additional boat from Corregidor Island in case of "any eventuality." But he added: "So far, there is no threat. That's why dispatched the boat from Corregidor - just for any eventuality, so immediately, we can react."
Exactly a year ago, the Philippine Navy apprehended Chinese fishing vessels anchored at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which were found to be carrying illegally collected marine life, such as corals, giant clams and live sharks. The incident sparked a standoff between the Philippines and China and re-ignited the territorial dispute over the shoal that has remained unresolved up to this day.
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