SARANGANI (May 12, 2011) - Bulk carrier overseas ship MV Double Prosperity remains stuck at Bakud Reef Thursday, May 12, after running aground 2.5 nautical miles off Kiamba town, Sarangani and within the municipal waters at 10 a.m. Sunday (May 8). Bakud Reef is part of the protected seascape under Presidential Proclamation No. 756. Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez has notified the owner of the vessel – Yano Kaiun Co. Ltd. Of Japan – to discuss with the municipal and provincial government, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the liabilities of Double Prosperity. “As time is of the essence, please inform us the soonest of your response to this letter and send your authorized agent on May 16, 2011 in Sarangani Province, otherwise we shall consider your silence and inaction as waiver on your part to discuss our claims and we shall be forced to attach your vessel to answer for the financial liabilities to our marine environment,” said Governor Dominguez in a letter to the president of Yano Kaiun Co. Ltd. The vessel which departed Australia enroute to India is loaded with 65.351 MT of coal. The Duty Officer of the Watch identified as 3rd Mate Robert Ortega Cepe admitted that he did not notice the shallow area of Bakud Reef that caused the vessel to run aground on its forward portion. Authorities believe that an estimated 4 hectares of marine life were damaged, after about 40% of the 244-meter ship rammed into the coral reefs. Captain Danilo Sta. Ana of the MV Double Prosperity admitted that the accident was the crew’s fault. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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