Barring no hitches, the military may finally start the retrieval operations for the BRP Gregorio del Pilar as the needed assets, equipment and even personnel are already at the Hasa-hasa Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), where the Navy’s flagship vessel is stuck.
Military Spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said the two tugboats, M/T Trabahador and M/T Vigilant, that were tapped to pull the warship were already in the area, along with officials that oversee the whole operation.
“The salvage master and salvage supervisor of SMIT Salvage & Towing were aboard del Pilar as of this morning at around 0900H [9 a.m. Monday], Arevalo said at a news briefing on Monday.
The military spokesman said the salvaging team was all set to start “rigging lines and gears” for the retrieval operations on Monday afternoon when the tide is high.
The Gregorio del Pilar ran aground while on patrol mission in the WPS last week.
Arevalo said the hull of the vessel, which is resting on the seabead, was intact, although its starboard propeller and port propeller were damaged.
“Per experts’ assessment, the local team can successfully extricate del Pilar from her current situation having taken into account technical matters like tide and current; force required to remove her from present position relative to her weight,” he said.
Arevalo said Commodore Rommel Galang, commander of the Joint Task Force “Goyong,” is overseeing the whole operation, even as other assets of the military are in the area to provide security.
“The team headed by Commodore Galang is confident that it can complete its mission in due time,” he said.
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), meanwhile, has launched a probe to determine how a passenger ferry caught fire after docking at the Taloot Port in Cebu on Sunday.
In a media advisory, Marina reported that along with the Philippine Coast Guard, it has assisted all 92 passengers and rescued 29 crewmen from the MV Lite Ferry 28.
“Initial report revealed that the fire emerged from the ferry’s engine room at 11:45 a.m., while it was about to dock at the Port of Taloot in Argao, Cebu. The ship left Tagbilaran Port in Bohol at 8 a.m.,” the advisory read.
According to the advisory, a private cargo ship, LCT Miami, immediately rescued and transported all passengers and crew to the port.
“Two more vessels—PCG’s BRP Capones and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources MCS 3007—rendered assistance and firefighting operations,” the statement read.
The distressed passenger vessel was towed ashore at around 12:45 p.m., the Marina said.