Chinese boat runs aground off Zambales

BOTOLAN, Zambales: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a Chinese-registered dredging vessel has run aground off the coast of this town.

The vessel, identified as MVZhongHai69 Alfa, was grounded approximately 200 meters off Barangay Bangan on June 14, 2020, the PCG said in a report.

A Coast Guard response team was immediately dispatched to survey and inspect the vessel, who reported that the vessel’s engine room and compartments were flooded with seawater.

It added there were no signs of oil leaking from the dredger.

Coast Guard commandant VAdm. George Ursabia Jr. assured the public that the grounded dredging vessel would be strictly supervised.

“The PCG remains on top of the situation. We do not want to add another burden to the current crisis we are facing,” he said in a statement.

“Most of all, we do not want the local residents in the area to bear the negative consequences of this situation, especially with the possible harm it can cause to the local marine environment,” he added.

The operator of the dredging vessel, Z2K Resources Inc., pledged to procure additional bilge pumps to remove water from the flooded vessel.

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. recently embarked on a project that intends to remove lahar sand from the heavily- silted Bucao, Maloma and Sto. Tomas river systems to prevent massive flooding in some villages and municipalities, restore the natural state of these rivers, reduce risks to lives and property, as well as utilize the lahar sand as a source of income for the province.