AFP: Weather key to recovering grounded ship

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs chief Colonel Noel Detoyato yesterday expressed hope that the weather will cooperate with efforts to disengage Philippine Navy (PN) flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) which ran aground in Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal in Palawan, Wednesday night.

Detoyato said any hope of removing the BRP Gregorio del Pilar from the area within this week or the next few days will depend on the winds and the tide.

"I hope there will be fair winds, clear skies and gentle waves," Detoyato said.

Detoyato added that the two tugboats have been deployed in the area to extricate the grounded ship from Hasa-Hasa Shoal.

"One is scheduled to arrive this afternoon (Sunday afternoon) and the other is already steaming towards Hasa-Hasa," Detoyato said.

"Other assets from nearby AFP installations are also on standby for any contingency. Reports also indicate that none of our personnel on board have been hurt due to the incident," Detoyato said.

"An investigation is expected in such situations to find out the possible causes of the grounding and to come up with steps to ensure that similar incidents will be prevented," he added.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar weighs 3,250 tons and is 378 feet long, was expected to be towed within the next 24 hours barring unforseen problems.

The grounded vessel is a former US Coast Guard cutter that was donated to the Philippine Navy in 2001, along with the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Andres Bonifacio.