AsiaDry CargoEnvironmentOperations

Crew of grounded bulker claim they were trying to avoid fishing vessels

The all Filipino crew of the grounded Belle Rose have told investigators they were taking evasive action to avoid smashing into fishing vessels, explaining how their bulker came to smash into 2.4 hectares of pristine coral reef in a popular diving site in the central Philippines early on Monday morning.

The ship, which is still stuck off northern Cebu, has not leaked any oil yet. Greenpeace has demanded the Japanese owner of the ship pay for any damages to the area, which is a shark sanctuary, before the vessel is allowed to leave.

The provincial government is looking into filing of lawsuit against ship’s manager, Sunship Management, and its Manila counterpart, Alpha Shipmanagement Corp.

Salvage operations are set to begin today starting with the unloading of the ship’s cargo of cement.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.

Comments

  1. Obviously they weren’t aware of the v/l’s pos’n when the grounding happened; hardly competent navigation and seamanship. 🙁

Back to top button