THE hijacked Indonesian tanker that has been left on the coastline in
Barangay Cabuaya, Mati City, Davao Oriental since February this year is set for
shipbreaking, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Southern
Mindanao.
Coast Guard commander for Southern Mindanao Commodore Joselito F. dela
Cruz, in an interview, said his office has coordinated with the Harbor Star
Shipping Services, Inc. (which is located in Lanang, Davao City) to undertake
the operation.
The MT Rehobot ship owner Well Titah and its insurer PT Asuransi Umum
Bumiputera Muda (Bumida) have failed to retrieve the vessel, according to dela
Cruz.
"Pinasa na namin yung bola sa salvage company. The Harbor Star,
however, has also requirements before taking the operation. Naghihintay na lang
sila ngayon ng go signal or certificate of abandonment from the owner,"
dela Cruz said.
"Ang mangyayari kasi kung sakali pumayag na yung owner or magbigay
na sila ng certificate of abandonment, the Harbor will look for a buyer, ibi-bid
yan before it will be broken. There are actually procedures on that," he
added.
He said they have coordinated with Indonesian Consul General Eko Hartono
on the matter, but the latter has yet to send his response.
The MT Rehobot, an Indonesian tanker, was hijacked off Lembeh Island,
North Sulawesi, last January 28, and was abandoned in Cabuaya last February 19.
Dela Cruz said the tanker was carrying 1,100 metric tons of diesel fuel
before this was hijacked. The PCG believes that the pirates transferred the
fuel to another vessel before the MT Rehobot was abandoned in Mati.
What was left in Cabuaya coastline, dela Cruz said, is the main body of
the tanker. He added that the tanker had been looted by some residents nearby.
"Though the vessel is free from oil spill, I will have to talk again
with the Indonesian consul and the Harbor Star for the scrapping of the
vessel," dela Cruz said.
Source: sun star. 15 September 2015
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