Japs set to salvage sunken tanker; 'It was a very seaworthy ship,' shipping exec says
Underwater inspection is up this week in the accident site of Petron chartered M/T Solar 1, some 15 nautical miles south of Guimaras island. Hi-tech sonar equipment will also do the job in locating the exact location of the submerged tanker set to be aided by the vessel's Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and sonar mapping.
As such, it would be 'judgment day for the country's largest oil refiner with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordering for the immediate retrieval of M/T Solar 1 and mounting calls from officials of Guimaras and Iloilo provincial governments.
Tasked to do the ambitious retrieval efforts is Japan's Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co Ltd said to be the number 'salvage company' here. The underwater inspection will determine the appropriate strategy, be it the safe retrieval of oil remaining in the eight cargo oil tanks or the actual refloating of the submerged vessel.
The EPIRB, on the other hand, through the sonar equipment is expected to pinpoint the exact location of M/T Solar 1 with Fukada's Shinsei Maru vessel's remote-operated vehicle (ROV).
"We are looking into the next five days for the retrieval efforts but it is hard to set a deadline on this one," Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor said in a The News Today (TNT) interview. "But that is the priority for now alongside the continued relief assistance to the affected residents."
Petron in its latest oil spill update confirmed the salvage plans as it went full blast in its "Ligtas Guimaras" operation.
"We are doing our best for now and with the President's declaration that the oil spill here has become a National Calamity, more assistance are assured. At the moment, we distributed initial relief to over 3,000 affected families," he added while saying that alternative livelihood projects are coming to help the dislocated and displaced Guimaras locals.
Secretary Defensor led top Malacañang officials in the weekend Guimaras visit of President Arroyo.
Meantime, a key official of the Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation, owner of the ill-fated tanker was reached by TNT as he shed light on the tanker's last hours at sea.
For starters, Mario Macariola, Safety Officer of the company confirmed that it was he who authorized the final voyage to Zamboanga last August 11th. Yet he clarified, it was not his call but the vessel's ship captain, Captain Norberto Aguro to give the final say on whether the conditions at sea is manageable for them or not.
Macariola also defended the seaworthiness of M/T Solar 1 saying it went through rigid check and inspections as he moved to dismiss speculations that the tanker was not capable of the Zamboanga voyage.
A text message sent to TNT tagged Macariola as the key figure in the tragic accident stating that he Safety Officer was supposedly not qualified for the job.
Macariola told TNT he last had contact with M/T Solar 1 at about 6 a.m, that tragic Friday and heard nothing until about 8 a.m. Saturday.
"Tulungan niyo kami. Lumubog ang barko," went the text message he got from the rescued ship captain. From hereon Macariola said everything came as a shock as immediate action was made by the company.
"This is a terrible accident. Wala ni sino man ang may gusto nito," he ended.