Salvage Team Refloats Cargo Vessel Stuck at Monad Shoal off North Cebu

A salvage team on Monday has successfully refloated the Panamanian-registered cargo vessel that ran aground in the Monad Shoal near Malapascua Island off Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu, an official said.

Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Balthazat Tribunalo said the salvage team refloated the MV Belle Rose at past 10 a.m. on Monday.

He said the team from the Malayan Towage and Salvaging Corp. used three tugboats in slowly pulling the vessel some 100 meters backwards to deeper waters and is now floating on waters with a depth of 100 to 200 meters.

The Belle Rose was carrying 48,000 metric tons of clinker, a raw powder ingredient used in manufacturing cement, accidentally went off course at 3 a.m. on June 13 and entered a 10-meter deep portion of Monad Shoal.

Initial reports said the vessel ran aground and damaged some three hectares of coral reefs in the Monad Shoal, reportedly the home of thresher sharks.

Ship captain Vicar Neil de los Reyes said he was trying to avoid fishermen when the vessel ran aground.

The vessel came from a port in Tsukumi, Japan and heading for San Fernando town in southern Cebu Cebu, to deliver the clinker powder to Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (PNA) LAP/EB/SGP