Salvage operations begin as new tugboat arrives in Tubbataha

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 18): Salvage operations begin as new tugboat arrives in Tubbataha

The tugboat, M/T Limay is expected to remove the Chinese vessel from Tubbataha Reef in Palawan after it arrived on Thursday at the grounding site, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Commander Armand Balilo, spokesperson of the PCG, said M/T Limay proceeded directly to the protected marine sanctuary to commence with the salvage operations for the Ming Long Yu.

“The tugboat arrived at 2 p.m. at the site,” he said in an interview.

The salvage operations to remove the grounded fishing vessel from the Tubbataha Reef were put on hold Sunday because of the engine problem encountered by the initial salvage vessel, the BRP Corregidor.

This prompted the PCG to hire M/T Limay, property of Malayan Towage Salvaging Corp., as the lead salvage vessel.

Its extraction teams, however, have to make an assessment on the condition of Ming Long Yu before they could get to work.

Balilo said the fishing vessel moved slightly from its original position while its hull and propeller remain intact and are in good condition.

“Once the vessel (Ming Long Yu) is inspected, they will then tow it from Tubbataha Reef to Puerto Princesa,” he said.

“In Puerto Princesa, it will undergo another inspection. The remaining pangolins onboard the vessel will also be inspected there,” Balilo added.

Coast Guard authorities are tracking down the scales of the confiscated pangolins to determine if these are local species.

They are also closely working with other agencies and gathering information from coastal communities that could lead to the wildlife trader.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard’s vessel BRP Romblon, the first vessel to arrive in the area, will stay in the grounding site to help M/T Limay in the removal operations.

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