A CARGO vessel was partially sunk after it collided with a foreign utility vessel at the South Harbor Anchorage area in Manila early morning yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.
No one was killed or hurt in the collision but an oil spill was seen in the vicinity, according to PCG communications Officer Joy Gumatay.
Gumatay said investigators are looking into the collision between the cargo vessel MV Palawan Pearl and the Cyprus-registered BKM 104, which is conducting dredging operations in the area in line with the construction of the New Manila Airport in Bulacan.
Gumatay said the collision occurred around 2:10 a.m. at the South Harbor Anchorage Area, about 100 meters away from the Baseco beach shoreline.
PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the MV Palawan Pearl was coming from the Pasig River, running at around seven knots, when it was hit at the quarter port (left-frontal area near the engine) by BKM104, which was on the right side of the cargo vessel. He said the BKM 104 was travelling at around 10 knots at the time.
Citing information from a crewmember of MV Palawan Pearl, Gumatay said the vessel was carrying some 3,000 liters of diesel oil, a drum of diesel oil, 60 liters of engine oil and five liters of bilge oil.
Gumatay said members of the PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Force have deployed oil spill booms in the area.
“Oil spill booms were deployed this morning to prevent the spread of the oil,” said Gumatay.
Gumatay said the PCG has notified officials of both vessels to lodge a marine protest.
